Carlos Tevez's hopes of playing again for Manchester City appear remote after Roberto Mancini rejected the forward's claim that he treated him "like a dog" during the incident at Bayern Munich that caused the 28-year-old to become estranged from the club. The manager retorted that, in fact, he had treated Tevez "too good" and a source close to him stated that the Italian and City's staff have been "hurt" by the Argentinian's outburst on Monday.

Mancini was asked here, on the eve of the opening leg of City's Europa League last-32 tie against Porto, about Tevez's "dog" claim. He said: "I don't want to answer your question because the game is more important than this but I answer only this question and after this no more because we have this game and it is an important game against a top club in Porto. I totally disagree with Carlos and what he says because I have never treated him badly.

"Maybe it's the opposite and I have treated him too well, always. Now – finished. I don't want to talk any more. This is the last question I answer on this for the next three months."

In March 2010 Mancini allowed Tevez as much compassionate leave as he required after being granted permission to fly home to Argentina where his daughter Katie was in intensive care after being born prematurely. The Italian also rebuilt Tevez's relationship with the club after the striker handed in a transfer request later that year and he was also prepared to play him when his proposed move to Corinthians last summer fell through.

The source close to Mancini added: "The manager is a very forgiving person and he was willing to open the door again for Carlos – if he said sorry. But he was hurt by what was said in the interview – a lot of the staff were hurt by it."

Tevez finally returned to City on Tuesday after more than three months away from the club, an absence that will cost him millions in docked wages. Tevez is yet to meet or speak to Mancini and on Wednesday he started a fitness programme at around 3pm at City's Carrington training base after the team had trained without him in the morning.

James Milner attempted to play down the dispute. Asked whether Tevez's presence back at the club may affect morale and derail their season, the City midfielder said: "I don't really understand the difficulties. We just carry on playing football. There are more people stood outside the training ground but, to us, we just go out there and work hard every day in training and concentrate on the next game coming up like we have done all year.

"Nothing changes. Our focus is on the games. That's the only thing we can control and the only thing we'll try and do is go out there and try to win football matches."