Lawyers acting on behalf of Carlos Tevez have lodged papers to have the ex-City star's bid to write off his community service heard in court.

Tevez, 29, is applying to have the bulk of his 250 hours unpaid work thrown out so he can move to Italy following his £7.6m transfer to Juventus.

It means the court may need to re-sentence the string of driving offences which originally saw the community service handed out by Macclesfield magistrates.

The bid could see Tevez jailed instead – but legal experts believe he is more likely to receive a suspended prison term.

From the M.E.N. earlier: Italy-bound Tevez risking jail sentence due to court bid to write-off community service

A top barrister instructed to represent the Argentinian told the M.E.N the application had been launched in order to keep Tevez on the right side of the law as he prepares for his move to Turin.

Gwyn Lewis, dubbed 'Merlin the Magician' because of his success defending Manchester City stars in motoring cases, said: “No rules or regulations have been broken and we are acting on Mr Tevez's behalf to ensure that this continues to be the case.”

Tevez was disqualified from driving for six months and handed the community service punishment in April after he admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The M.E.N understands Tevez is still yet to complete the vast majority of his 250 hours work.

Juventus return to pre-season training on July 12 and offenders can only carry out a maximum of 35 hours of community work in a week.

It is thought lawyers will argue the change of circumstances had not come about with the purpose of evading the sentence.

The striker – who earned around £250,000-a-week at the Etihad, was pulled over by police in his Porsche Cayenne while leaving a Cheshire golf club on March 7.

Mr Tevez's original ban came in January after a court heard he ignored police letters as he did not understand the word 'constabulary'.