Corinthians say they can only afford to take Carlos Tevez on-loan due to Manchester City's asking price.
Corinthians claim Manchester City's £50million asking price and Tevez's £250,000-a-week wages are out of their league.
Instead, the Brazilians hope the Blues will let him return to them on a one-year loan deal.
Vice-director of football Duilio Alves said: "It would have to be a loan. We cannot buy him, that is an absurd figure - unviable for the Brazilian football market."
Alves claims Corinthians are banking on City caving in to Tevez over his determination to return to South America to be closer to his two daughters.
"His intention exists," he said. "If one day it is possible, Corinthians are interested.
"It is not impossible. We are going to try to discover all the details. It is a dream we are trying to make true. I do not want to give false hope to the fans. We will try. That is what all can say.
"He is interested in returning, everybody knows that. He has said several times he would play for Corinthians or Boca Juniors again.
"With that interest on his part, we are interested in his coming. For that to come true, it is distant. But we are going after him and we have initiated talks."
