The prospect of Carlos Tevez joining Paris Saint-Germain appears to be receding after it was reported talks with the Manchester City striker's representatives had failed.
Reports have emerged from France claiming the ambitious French club have been unable to reach an agreement with the Argentinian over a possible move.
Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian had travelled to Paris to meet with senior club officials, including sporting director Leonardo and new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Press Association Sport understands the talks are unlikely to be resurrected, meaning that Tevez's future remains uncertain.
Inter Milan are still in negotiations with City over the player while AC Milan, the other club to have been heavily linked with the 27-year-old, recently pulled out of discussions.
There has been speculation, however, that the Serie A champions could resurrect their interest in a player who remains out of favour at City before the end of the January transfer window.
Tevez has not played for City since becoming embroiled in a dispute with the club in September and is currently in Argentina awaiting a possible move.
Manager Roberto Mancini said he hoped the saga could be resolved quickly but latest developments may scupper his wishes.
Either way, the Italian admitted the player does not have a future at the Etihad Stadium.
When asked if Tevez could return to his team if a move failed to materialise, Mancini said: "This is impossible. Carlos doesn't want to stay.
"It is important for him to start to play because he is a football player.
"It is now three months that he hasn't played and this is not good for him."
He added: "I hope for him everything can finish very quickly."
The absence of Tevez, City's former captain and talisman, has left Mancini with just three frontline strikers in Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli for much of the campaign.
Although City have largely prospered with that trio scoring 41 goals between them in all competitions, injuries to Dzeko and Balotelli this month did leave the Barclays Premier League leaders light up front for certain games.
In those circumstances, Mancini concedes he might have wished he could call upon Emmanuel Adebayor, the City forward currently thriving on a season-long loan at Tottenham.
Adebayor had a disagreement with Mancini and spent the second half of last season at Real Madrid before being granted another move to White Hart Lane.
His nine goals this term have helped lift third-place Spurs into a title fight with City and Mancini claims he is pleased to see him prospering.
And when asked if he might have liked him in his team lately, he said: "Probably, probably - but we didn't know with Carlos what would happen in Munich.
"We had four strikers. I think with four strikers you can play one year.
"I am happy for Manu because he is playing very well for Tottenham."
Mancini says he could not always guarantee Adebayor, signed by Mark Hughes from Arsenal for £25million in 2009, a place in his team.
A decision over the 27-year-old's future will have to be made when his loan expires in the summer and Mancini is unsure if he could find a place for him again in his side.
He said: "I don't know in this moment.
"I said I am happy because I watched a lot of games and he has played very well, scored a lot of goals.
"Sometimes it is possible that you have a situation like this - you have good players but he wants to play always. This is difficult in a top team.
"When you have three or four strong strikers you need to change.
"If you have one striker who needs to play always it is not easy."
Mancini will at least not have to contend with Adebayor as Spurs visit the Etihad Stadium for an eagerly-anticipated encounter on Sunday.
The restrictions of the loan preclude the former Monaco man from facing his parent club in a game that could have big implications for the title race.
