Tevez denied those claims this morning, but Redknapp clearly thinks the former West Ham striker was in the wrong and gave his full support to Mancini.

Redknapp, speaking ahead of Spurs’ Europa League meeting with Shamrock Rovers tomorrow night, said: “It was unbelievable. I felt sorry for Roberto Mancini to be put in that situation.

“It’s not fair. It wasn’t right for Man City, wasn’t right for football. I can’t believe it. It shouldn’t happen. It can’t happen.

“I just wonder what City legends like Malcom Allison and Mike Summerbee would have thought of seeing a player refuse to play in a Champions League game. It is beyond belief.”

Tevez had pleaded with Mancini to allow him to leave the club this summer but a move to Corinthians fell through and he had to stay at the Etihad Stadium.

He has been forced to play second fiddle to Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli since, but his talent and goal-scoring record mean he could have turned the tie in City’s favour last night.

Redknapp thinks the striker’s refusal to play sends a terrible message out to youngsters watching the game.

He said: “What message does that send out to young footballers? If on Sunday morning an under-10’s team manager wants to put a sub on and he stands there saying: ’I ain’t going on’. It can’t be right.”

Mancini has said he never wants Tevez to play for him again but Redknapp thinks letting the Argentina star rot in the reserves could be detrimental to the club.

“I don’t know what you can do with him now,” Redknapp added. “At the end of the day he holds all the aces.

“He gets his wages every week and if you want to give him away someone will give him a fortune because he is cheap.

“He is a great player, no doubt, a fantastic footballer but it’s a problem that Man City can deal with now.

“Only they can decide whether he plays for them again. I thought the manager was fantastic after the game, the way he spoke. He didn’t deserve that. He is a good manager. He is a good guy.”

When asked whether he would consider making a bid for Tevez, Redknapp said: “We couldn’t afford him. No chance.”

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis, speaking ahead of his side’s Europa League tie with Besiktas tomorrow night, said of the Tevez incident: “Players get disappointed and players have got egos, but you deal with it.

“I’m sure they will deal with it in the right and proper manner. What is said and done between two people is said and done, so they have to react and do what they have to do at Man City.”