LONDON - Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez said on Sunday he wanted to leave the English Premier League high-flyers as his relationship with "certain executives and individuals" at the club "has broken down beyond repair".

But City captain Tevez, in a statement issued by his agent Kia Joorabchian, stressed he had "no personal issue" with manager Roberto Mancini despite their seemingly fractious relationship, and thanked owner Sheikh Mansour for his "understanding and support".

It is understood that one of the people Tevez, who is reportedly homesick and looking for a move back to Argentina where his two daughters live, has fallen out with at Eastlands is City chief executive Garry Cook.

Earlier on Sunday, City confirmed it had rejected a transfer request from the Argentina striker, who has scored 33 goals in 50 Premier League games since joining from arch-rivals Manchester United before the start of last season and who is not due to leave Eastlands until 2014.

However, Tevez appeared intent on departing, saying in his statement: "I can confirm I have handed a transfer request to the chairman of Manchester City Football Club.

"My feelings have not changed and it is regrettable that we have reached this situation," said the 26-year-old, who missed City's 3-1 win over bottom-of-the-table West Ham on Saturday through suspension.

"But it is something I have felt for some time and I have spent many hours thinking this through."

City's statement effectively singled out Iranian businessman Joorabchian, who retained the South American's registration until he joined City from United.

That arrangement had proved controversial when the forward first came to English football at West Ham, where he helped it stay up in 2007 despite claims the east Londoners had broken registration rules when taking him on loan.

However, Tevez insisted he was no-one's puppet, saying: "I hugely resent the management's suggestions that I have been unduly influenced by others."

And he indicated it was Joorabchian who had prevented him leaving City, currently second in the table, before the start of this season.

"I wanted to leave in the summer, but was convinced to return to the club. Sadly, my feelings have not changed.

"My relationship with certain executives and individuals at the club has broken down and is now beyond repair."

Agence France-Presse