Roberto Mancini has insisted that Manchester City will not allow Carlos Tevez to leave the club in a cut-price deal.
The Argentine striker is currently in his homeland and is said to be refusing to return to Manchester.
Recent reports have suggested that the Premier League leaders will accept a low transfer offer in order to remove the 27-year-old from their books.
However, Mancini has claimed that isn't necessarily the case.
"Tevez is strong regardless of what has happened," Mancini told Rai Due, an Italian television station.
"And great players have a price that is rather high."
Tevez joined City in 2009 following spell in England with West Ham United and Manchester United.