Manchester City has rejected captain Carlos Tevez's written transfer request, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

City, which went joint top of the league on Saturday, said it was disappointed by the move, particularly as it had been so accommodating of the Argentina striker's personal circumstances of his family living in South America.

"This is both an unfortunate and unwelcome distraction and the club will remain focused on the games ahead in what is turning out to be a very promising season," the club said in a statement on its website (www.mcfc.co.uk).