Roberto Mancini speaks to the press ahead of Manchester City's home match against Stoke City on Wednesday Reuters & Press Association

The Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that the club will not allow Carlos Tevez to leave on loan.

City officials will meet their Milan counterparts on Thursday in an attempt to reach a deal, but the Italian club have already said they do not have the resources to buy Tevez outright.

"I hope we can find a good solution for us and Carlos," said Mancini. "We want Carlos to come back [from Argentina] and play football and the best solution for us is to sell him. We can't let him leave on loan."

City's stance runs the risk of extending the impasse beyond the January transfer deadline, although other clubs do remain interested.

"When Manchester City buy a player, they have to pay a lot of money," Mancini said. "But when we want to sell them, they have to go on loan. This is not good. It is not correct for the other players.

"Manchester City paid Carlos a lot of money for three years. It is correct that if one club – it could be Milan, Juventus, PSG, Inter – want him, they pay for his value. This is correct."

Meanwhile, Mancini has praised Mario Balotelli's recent form, but urged the striker to have a calmer second half of the season off the pitch.

"Mario can improve every week and every month. He is young and when you are a young player, you improve always.

"I hope the New Year can bring a different way for him and that he can understand if he wants to play well and have a good private life, he should have good behaviour always, not for one week yes and then change for two days.

"Every top player has a good private life and a good behaviour. They are the first in training every day. This is the way it needs to be for him."