Former Manchester City boss Joe Royle cannot see how Carlos Tevez can stay at Eastlands following his public transfer demand this week.
Tevez has angered sections of City fans by wanting out but Royle believes the former Manchester United star should be given the benefit of the doubt - for now.
Royle, who managed City between 1998 and 2001, told the Daily Star: "I can't see a way in which Tevez will stay. I hope he does, because I think City are on the verge of something big this coming season.
"But you have to take him at face value. If he wants to leave for family reasons then you have to respect the fact he's putting his family first.
"City may try and make him stay, of course and dig their heels in because they are quite within their rights to do so.
"It's not like he's just come here from Argentina is it? He's been at West Ham and then Manchester United, so you do wonder if there are other motives involved.
"He doesn't seem to hang around in one place for too long."
