But so-called "clear the air" talks on Monday afternoon saw 26-year-old Tevez formally withdraw his request and Mancini rewarded the Argentine with a place in the starting line-up and the captain's armband.
He has been troubled by a persistent hamstring injury and, more significantly for the team, remains at the centre of a destabilising transfer saga after handing in a transfer request prior to the game at Old Trafford only to withdraw it two weeks later.
But as of now, we have not received that request and we are fulfilling our obligations according to the agreement signed with the Iraqi government to withdraw our forces by the end of the year.