Kia Joorabchian attempted to placate Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday by insisting that Carlos Tévez has no issue with the Manchester United manager. However, the Argentina forward’s representative has accepted that his client could leave Old Trafford as rival clubs prepare to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the player’s future.

Despite Tévez’s outburst during an interview with an Argentine radio station on Monday, when he threatened to quit the Barclays Premier League champions unless they stopped dragging their heels over the offer of a permanent contract, he is expected to start for United in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final away to Derby County this evening.

Having been given permission to go back to Argentina over the Christmas period for what Ferguson described as a “family issue”, Tévez is understood to have held talks with the manager after returning to training with United yesterday morning.

Although it is unclear what was discussed, Ferguson is unlikely to have taken kindly to Tévez criticising him, albeit that the player did so in the mistaken belief that the manager had said that he had rejected a contract offer because he wanted parity with Wayne Rooney, who earns in excess of £100,000 a week. However, Ferguson’s irritation is thought to lie not with Tévez, but Joorabchian.

Ferguson hinted on Friday that it was Joorabchian’s role in the negotiation process that was proving an obstacle to striking a deal. He also appears to disapprove of the influence the businessman, who owns Tévez’s economic rights, has on the player, although United’s apparent unwillingness to match Joorabchian’s £32 million valuation has been just as much of a sticking point.

As revealed by The Times last week, it seems unlikely that Tévez’s future will be resolved until the end of the season when his two-year loan deal with United expires.

Joorabchian did attempt to smooth relations between Tévez and Ferguson, however, even if it is his relationship with the United manager that is likely to require the greater work.

“Tévez just wanted to clarify that he hadn’t received an offer — everything’s fine,” Joorabchian said. “He gets on very well with Ferguson. Everything started with a lie written by an English journalist who wrote that Ferguson had said they made an offer. There are no problems and he’s going to carry on playing for Manchester United until the end of the season.”

Tévez will try to put the events of the past 48 hours behind him this evening, when Ferguson will keep faith with the fringe players who have impressed in the Carling Cup this season. “It’s always good to get to Wembley,” Ferguson said. “I think the way we’ve engineered it this year, with all the younger players, it’s been great to see them in the Carling Cup.”

Derby County (possible; 4-4-1-1): R Carroll - PConnolly, M Albrechtsen, L Nyatanga, S Hines - GTeale, P Green, M Addison, S Davies - K Commons - R Hulse.
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): B Foster - Rafael Da Silva, G Neville, J Evans, J O'Shea - D Gibson, R Possebon, Anderson, Nani - C Tévez, D Welbeck.
Referee: P Dowd.
Television: Live on Sky Sports 1, from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm).