Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez left Argentina on Monday (February 13) to make his way back to England where he will face the music following an unauthorised absence that has lasted since November.
The 28-year-old has been feuding with manager Roberto Mancini after defying his instruction to warm up during the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.
At Buenos Aires airport, Tevez said he was returning to train.
When asked by journalists if his absence from the playing field had caused him suffering, he said it had.
"I am going back to train, which is the most important thing. I need to train. After that, we'll see if I play or not. (Journalist asking: how much have you suffered through not being able to play?) One suffers when you can't do what you want, you suffer a lot, but it also did me good to be with my family and to recharge my batteries," said Tevez.
Tevez also spoke about failing to secure a move in the transfer window.
"All that was talked about regarding transfers was true. They didn't do it and I will always belong to City, so I have to continue there," he said.
Manchester City fans consider him a traitor for refusing to play and also bad-mouthing their city on Argentine television.
When asked how he expected to be greeted, he said he would have to wait and see.
"As I said earlier, it is a challenge to go back to train. Going back to my teammates is a challenge too. The expectations are that I will continue training. (Journalist asking: how do you think you will be received by the people of Manchester?) I don't know. I will see," said Tevez.
Tevez was accompanied by his wife and daughters. The family posed for photographs for fans in the check-in hall.
Earlier in the day, Tevez spoke out in an interview with Fox Sports, saying Mancini had treated him "like a dog".
Reuters