Rumours that Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez could move to Inter Milan this summer have deepened after pictures emerged of the Argentina international talking to Marco Branca, the head of technical staff at Inter Milan.

Tevez's representatives attempted to dismiss the meeting - which occured while both parties were holidaying independently in Sardinia - as a coincidence. But reports from Italy suggest that the rendezvous was no accident. Calcio Mercato - via ESPN Soccer - claims Inter are keen on signing Tevez to complete an attacking quartet of Pazzini, Eto'o, Milito and the Argentine.

A City spokesman said: "We have been made aware of what appears to be a picture of Carlos Tevez and Marco Branca."

The Serie A club have been linked with Tevez throughout the summer transfer window. The 27-year-old is anxious to leave Manchester, a city he openly despises, to be closer to his two children and his estranged wife, who live in Argentina.

When City boss Roberto Mancini was asked if he had talked with the player, Mancini replied: "No. his telephone doesn't work."

"At the moment, Carlos is still a City player - just like he was yesterday, and just like three days ago. In the future we will see what can happen. But he's still an important player for us right now.

"Carlos wants to leave; he wants to go back to Argentina, or another country, so he can be closer to his family. It's only for this that the club agreed to sell him."

Meanwhile, City are confident of signing Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero before the start of the new season. The Argentina international, who has scored 74 goals in 175 appearances for the La Liga side, is the subject of a £38m bid from Eastlands.

"I'm here [in Los Angeles] but other people who work at the club are working on these things," Mancini said.

"The problem is that all the good clubs want these players. Signing new players is not easy and we need time but I hope before the Community Shield [on 7 August] we can add other players."

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