Tevez's future has been in doubt since he handed in a transfer request earlier in the season. Immediately after the FA Cup final defeat of Stoke on Saturday, the South American claimed he had to decide where his future lay due to family problems. However, in the aftermath of his side's 3-0 win over Stoke at Eastlands this evening, in which Tevez scored twice, Mancini said he will be staying at Eastlands. "He has a five-year contract and has told us he wants to stay," said Mancini. "He said that before. He never had any problem." Mancini's words do seem to have added a huge amount of confusion that was expected to be a straightforward summer exit for Spain or Italy, particularly as the City chief is referring to conversations when, publicly at least, Tevez has said his future is undecided. "Carlos has scored 20 goals this season. Every time we say Carlos is an important player. Carlos is Carlos. He is a fantastic striker and a fantastic player for us. I think he will stay here next year. He doesn't have a problem," he said. "I spoke with him many times in the last 20 days. It is my opinion that Carlos stays here next season. "In December he had a problem. But everyone can change his opinion. "I don't know what his representatives think. "Carlos is an important player here. The feeling for him is good. "Nowhere else can he find behaviour that all people have for him." Mancini is clearly anxious to avoid a summer of uncertainty, particularly surrounding his best attacking player, who moved level with Dimitar Berbatov in the race for the Golden Boot with a brace that took him onto 21 for the season. "I think if he will stay next year he won't change," said Mancini. "When we play in the Champions League, probably we will have a better squad. We can buy other good players. "Why should he change? I don't think this will happen. "Carlos has scored 20 goals this season. Every time we have said he is an important player. "He is a fantastic striker and a fantastic player for us." Stoke boss Tony Pulis could admire Tevez's second, a brilliant free-kick that gave Thomas Sorensen no chance. "The free-kick was extraordinary," Pulis said. "It was a great goal. "He has been out of the team and has a point to prove. "When their best players have a point to prove they are dangerous. He is a top player." Indeed, having come off second best against the Blues twice in four days, Pulis feels he has encountered a side who will go very close to winning the championship next season. "They remind me of Chelsea four or five years ago when Mourinho was in charge," he said. "They are a big, strong powerful group of players with good pace, ability and talent as well. "They will be a force next season. They will be a danger to the other teams in the championship." Their quest would be aided if they were able to make it straight through to the Champions League rather than find themselves facing a hazardous qualifier in August. "There is a big difference between going straight into the group and having to play a qualifier," said Mancini. "It was important to get fourth position when we started the season. "But at the moment we are third, with one game to go. "We have one difficult game, at Bolton. But it will be difficult for Arsenal against Fulham and we want to finish third."
