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Chelsea joins Manchester City for Milner bid

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 21(ANI): Premier League champions Chelsea has joined Manchester City in the fight to sign Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

Milner has two years left on his 40,000 pounds-a-week contract, but Villa manager Martin O’Neill wants to open talks on a new deal after the World Cup.

Chelsea insiders claim that the club is ready to go the distance for Milner after missing out to City on Brazilian striker Robinho two summers ago.

“Losing out to City for Robinho was embarrassing at the time, even if it did turn out to be a lucky escape,” The Sun quoted a Chelsea insider, as saying.

“But we are determined to get our man this time and we are very confident it will happen,” he added.

City are believed to have had an initial bid of 25 million pounds rejected by Villa, and have tabled a second offer of 30 million pounds. (ANI)

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World Cup Group G news – Brazil/Ivory C/Portugal/N Korea

April 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Latest Group G team news ahead of the World Cup in South Africa which starts on June 11:

BRAZIL

Playmaker Kaka celebrated his return after a six-week injury absence by coming off the bench in the 75th minute and scoring a clinical winner in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Zaragoza.

The goal allowed the 28-year-old to silence his critics who had questioned his commitment to the club as his muscular problems dragged on and suggested he was saving himself for South Africa.

Rightback Maicon missed Inter Milan’s Serie A match against Atalanta after breaking a tooth during the 3-1 Champions League win over Barcelona in midweek. Robinho failed to impress as Santos beat Santo Andre 3-2 in the first leg of the Paulista final in Brazil.

PORTUGAL

Porto midfielder Ruben Micael’s hopes of travelling to the finals ended after he broke his right foot in training.

The 23-year had impressed after his move from Nacional in January, earning a place in the starting lineup and putting himself in contention for a World Cup spot.

“It’s always bad when players get injured. Ruben was starting to appear… and naturally he was being observed,” Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters.

Brighter news from Valencia right-back Miguel, who said he has recovered fully from a muscle injury that sidelined him for a month and that he has been told he will be included in the 23-man squad for the finals.

NORTH KOREA

Pak Doo-ik, whose goal gave North Korea a stunning 1-0 win over Italy at the 1966 World Cup, believes the North can advance to the last 16 in South Africa.

The 74-year-old, who earned the nickname ‘the Dentist’ for the pain he inflicted on the Italians, predicted North Korea would join Brazil as the two qualifiers from Group G, which also features Portugal and Ivory Coast.

“North Korean soccer has come a long way and I believe we will advance to the second round in South Africa,” he told a Brazilian newspaper at the weekend.

IVORY COAST

New coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been to Sevilla to watch midfielder Christian Koffi Ndri, who was controversially left out of the squad for January’s African Nations Cup finals.

The midfielder, popularly known as Romaric, told reporters he had discussions with Eriksson earlier this month around a possible return to the squad.

“He asked me what I could bring to the team and I am reassured and happy that he took the trouble to come and see me,” said the 26-year-old.

(Editing by Miles Evans;

To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Money can’t buy you a good team, says Arsenal striker Van Persie

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 12 (ANI): Taking a swipe on Manchester City’s big spending this season, Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie has said that money can’t buy you a team.

Arsenal visits Eastlands today and hitman Van Persie reckons huge price tags turn players into individuals under pressure and harms team spirit.

“At Arsenal we’d never buy a player who costs 40 or 50 million pounds. If you look at clubs who have spent that kind of money then I don’t see them playing as a team,” he said.

“If you look at our transfer policy then you can see how players respond when the manager puts faith in them,” The Sun quoted Van Persie, as saying.

City tried to buy Brazilian playmaker Kaka in a 100 million pounds deal and splashed more than 30 million pounds on Robinho.

“If you think of yourself as part of a group then you are prepared to work hard for results together. A 40 million pounds player feels pressure. They are going to be judged more than some guy who has come from the youth policy and then he thinks in terms of one person and not the team,” he said.

Van Persie reckons that Gunners chief Arsene Wenger’s approach is proof that clubs do not have to fork out huge sums.

“We have made a good start to the season and you can see how players like Alexandre Song and Denilson and Abou Diaby have responded. They are playing better because the manager believes in them,” he added. (ANI)

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Manchester City not in 47-mn pounds deal for Tevez

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 12 (ANI): No deal was struck with Manchester City to pay a British record transfer fee of 47 million pounds for Carlos Tevez to MSI, the company fronted by Kia Joorabchian which owned the player before his move to City.

A spokesman for Kia Joorabchian last night denied that Manchester City had struck a deal to pay 47 million pounds for Tevez to MSI.

A report last night alleged that City had agreed to pay 47 million pounds for the Argentine forward, as opposed to 25.5 million pounds, the figure widely reported as the fee City paid to lure him from Manchester United.

“It’s not true,” a spokesman for Joorabchain said of the 47 million pounds figure. The spokesman said that he expected Joorabchian, and possibly City, to issue a formal denial today.

Rumours have circulated for several weeks that City had agreed to pay considerably more for Tevez than the 25.5 million pounds reported at the time of his move, The Independent reports.

Last night’s reports suggested that City had agreed to an initial 15 million pounds payment for Tevez, with two 16 million pounds payments to come.

If City did agree to pay 47 million pounds for Tevez, as alleged last night, that figure would smash the British record of 32.5 million pounds that City paid in 2008 for Robinho.

It would cast fresh light on the magnitude of the ambitions of City’s Middle Eastern owners, and on their willingness to pay massive sums for players, the paper reports. (ANI)

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Terry signs new five year contract with Chelsea

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep.1 (ANI): Chelsea and England captain John Terry has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2014.

The contract is worth 150,000-pounds-a-week, making him the best-paid player at the club and elevating him into the elite earners in world football, reports The Telegraph.

The England captain will earn close to 39 million pounds over the course of the contract and will in all likelihood see the England defender see out his career at the club he joined as a 14-year-old.

A club statement read: “Chelsea are delighted to confirm that John Terry has signed a new five-year contract that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season.

This reaffirms both John’s and Chelsea’s long-stated desire for him to be at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his playing career.”

Terry’s salary will be the highest yet paid to an English footballer and will make him the second-best paid player in the Premier League behind Robinho, of Manchester City.

Terry has made 276 appearances in 12 seasons at Stamford Bridge and has won 54 England caps since 2003. (ANI)

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Chelsea ready to make 42 m pound bid for Aguero

August 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Aug.15 (ANI): Chelsea is ready to make a 42-million pound bid for Atletico Madrid superstar Sergio Aguero.

According to The Sun, the club’s Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich wants to give coach Carlo Ancelotti a big-name signing.

According to the report, Atletico is likely to turn down the offer and tell Chelsea they must match the 50 million pound get out clause for 21-year-old Aguero.

Chelsea’s offer would eclipse Manchester City’s 32.5 million pound signing of Robinho as the British record. (ANI)

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Robinho says Tevez will have no regrets about joining Man City

July 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 16 (ANI): Brazilian football star Robinho has promised his Argentine counterpart Carlos Tevez that he will not regret snubbing Chelsea to join Manchester City.

The Brazilian forward, 25, is ideally placed to pass comment as he was pursued by the two clubs back in August last year before opting for Eastlands.

Tevez has been faced with a similar dilemma since deciding to quit Manchester United.

The former Old Trafford hero opted for City despite being courted by Chelsea and Robinho maintains he will soon realise it is the right choice.

He said: “What I can say to Carlos is that I had to make the same choice last season. And I don’t regret choosing City. I have not done since the moment I signed.

“We all feel like a big family at City and that’s another point that I would mention to him,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

Robinho is also praying his close pal Elano will also stay. The midfielder is set for crunch talks with manager Mark Hughes in the next few days after helping Brazil win the Confederations Cup. (ANI)

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Man City never big enough to bid for me: Kaka

June 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Johannesburg, June 28 (ANI): Brazilian football star Kaka has told Manchester City they were never a big enough club to tempt him to the Premier League.

The Brazilian superstar, who was the subject of a massive bid from the Eastands club in January, chose to see out the season at AC Milan and then moved to Real Madrid in a record-breaking 60-million-pounds deal.

According to News of The World, Kaka has spent the last two weeks with Robinho as part of the Brazil squad at the Confederations Cup in South Africa – where they will play the USA in today’s final.

He explained that City would have needed a more illustrious history and safer long-term financial backing to attract him to England.

Kaka, 27, insisted he will never regret his decision to join Real Madrid after the return of president Florentino Perez, who brought in the Galacticos era of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Robinho. He will be joined at the Bernabeu next season by World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I know I made the correct choice going to Real. To be alongside players who can decide a match on their own is very important and Cristiano can do that,” he said. (ANI)

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Robinho delighted over Man U’s flop show against Barcelona

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 28 (ANI): Robinho has revealed that he is delighted at seeing arch rivals Manchester United flop in Rome during Champions League Final.

“I was cheering for Barcelona. First, because I have friends there and also because United are our biggest rivals,” said Manchester City’s Brazilian striker.

“I was sure Barcelona would prove they are Europe’s best team. Not just Europe – they have the greatest and most powerful squad in the world,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

Robinho also claimed that Barca’s win ended the debate over whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the world’s best player.

The City star said: “Messi proved without a doubt he’s the best.” (ANI)

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Liverpool win at Hull to keep title hopes alive; Hope for West Brom

May 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London – Liverpool kept their title hopes alive with a 3-1 win at Hull City on Saturday as they moved back above Manchester United on goal difference at the top of the English Premier League. A first-half strike from Xabi Alonso set Liverpool on their way and two goals from Dirk Kuyt sealed the points, though champions United can go back three points clear at the top, with a game still in hand, if they beat Tottenham Hotspur later on Saturday.

Chelsea are three points behind the top two after they won 1-0 at West Ham United, while bottom side West Bromwich Albion gave themselves a glimmer of hope in their battle for survival by beating Sunderland 3-0 at the Hawthorns.

Alonso smashed a rebound from his own free kick late in the first half of their match at Hull and things then got worse for the home side when Caleb Folan was sent off after
58 minutes for kicking out at Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

Dirk Kuyt then doubled their lead with a header four minutes later but Geovanni pulled one back with 18 minutes to go thanks to a neat finish after good work from Daniel Cousin.

Fernando Torres headed against the crossbar from close range but Kuyt made sure of the points with his side’s third late on, leaving Hull still just three points ahead of the relegation zone, with four games to go.

Salomon Kalou’s second-half goal put Chelsea in front at Upton Park but the striker turned into the villain with 20 minutes to go when he conceded a penalty for pulling back Herita Ilunga.

However, Petr Cech came to his rescue with a fine save from Mark Noble’s spot-kick and Chelsea took the points.

West Brom remain bottom but now only two points behind Newcastle and six points away from safety after goals from Jonas Olsson, Chris Brunt and Juan Carlos Menseguez gave them a 3-0 win over Sunderland.

Robinho and Stephen Ireland scored the goals as Manchester City won 2-1 at Everton for only their second away win of the season, while Stoke are still not totally safe after their 1-0 loss at Fulham.

Fifth-placed Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers in the day’s other match. (dpa)

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Brazilian footie star Robinho reveals his three months of hell

April 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr.24 (ANI): Brazilian football star Robinho has revealed that the past three months have been hell, as he is waiting to see if he would be charged with an alleged sex attack on an 18-year-old.

Robinho, 25, who also plays for Manchester City, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the student at The Space nightclub in Leeds on January 14.

According to the Daily Star, City fans are convinced his off-field worries are affecting his performances on the pitch.

“The Leeds incident was a bad thing to happen, particularly taking into account that I did nothing wrong. But I carried on with life and playing my football as though nothing had happened. That is the way it was. That is the way it had to be,” Robinho was quoted, as saying.

“My lack of goals or form had nothing to do with that. What happened has not soured my view of England or made me want to leave. I am used to the attention that I receive and I don’t get fed up about it. But not everything that is written about me is true,” he added.

Throughout his ordeal, the 160,000-pound-a-week star, who was signed from Real Madrid last summe, had the support of his team-mates and manager Mark Hughes, 45.

Robinho – who lives in Cheshire with his wife Vivian and their 16-month old son Robson – was told by detectives earlier this month they would not be taking any further action.

Last night, however, it emerged they are considering whether to charge the 18-year-old student, from Bristol, with wasting police time. (ANI)

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Robinho to face no police action over rape claim

April 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr 7 (ANI): Manchester City star Robinho will not face any charges over a rape allegation made against him in January.
West Yorkshire Police launched an investigation after an 18-year-old woman complained of being sexually assaulted at a nightclub in Leeds, where Robinho was partying with Manchester City teammates in the early hours of Jan. 14.

The Brazil international forward was arrested and released on bail, but police said on Monday that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that no action should be taken after reviewing details of the allegation.

Robinho attended a prearranged interview with West Yorkshire Police at the time the allegations were made and answered questions relating to an alleged incident at the Space nightclub in Leeds. He strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Following a report of a serious sexual assault that occurred at a nightclub in Leeds on January 14, 2009, the matter was investigated and the man was arrested and released on police bail.

“A file was submitted to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) who decided that no further action should be taken.”

Robinho’s spokesman Chris Nathaniel welcomed the announcement, and issued a statement thanking Manchester City for their support.

“I am pleased to announce that Robson de Souza (Robinho) has been cleared of all allegations of rape,” The Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

“He has maintained his innocence throughout the police interview process and I am delighted that no further action will be taken,” he said. (ANI)

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Robinho locks horns with Pele over drug slur

March 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Mar.23 (ANI): A furious Manchester City and Brazilian football star Robinho has demanded an apology and an explanation from erstwhile soccer great Pele for accusing him of taking drugs.

A spokesman for Brazilian Robinho said: “We strenuously refute any such suggestions. The notion of him taking drugs is absurd and we completely deny it. We are trying at this moment to get Pele to clarify the situation. We think these comments have been genuinely misunderstood or got lost in translation.”

The Sun quoted the spokesman as saying further that they will press for a retraction if one does not come voluntarily.

Pele, 68, now a global ambassador for the sport, made the slur at a private event in Brazil. The tourism event where Pele spoke was closed to the press and public. (ANI)

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Robinho builds a beach in his Cheshire garden

February 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Feb.19 (ANI): Brazilian football star Robinho is having a huge shipment of sand delivered to his home – to play beach soccer.

According to The Sun, the Manchester City forward, 25, has clubbed together with Brazilian team-mates Elano, Glauber Berti and Jo to create the pitch.

The sand will be laid out in the grounds of his new Cheshire mansion. (ANI)

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Robinho turns his home into a fortress

January 31, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan. 31 (ANI): Fearing that his family might become a target of hate, Brazilian football ace Robinho has beefed up security at his home.

In the wake of him being reportedly involved in the rape of a Leeds girl, Robintho has arranged for a new alarm and security system to be installed at the family’s rented barn conversion in Mobberley, Cheshire, The Star reported.

A Manchester city club insider said, “Security is a key issue for all our players and it’s no surprise Robi wants to step up his. He’s obviously very concerned about the welfare of his wife, child and himself at this particular time.”

West Yorkshire Police quizzed Robinho for four hours after he was accused for raping an 18-year-old student in the VIP area of The Space nightclub in Leeds on January 14.

The Samba striker denied the claim and has pledged to help investigators.

The 160,000-pounds-a-week player went with pals and his wife Vivian to check out the band – fronted by Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, 30 – at Manchester’s MEN Arena for the latest leg of their Doll Domination Tour.

He delighted fans by signing autographs at a Pussycat Dolls concert in Manchester. (ANI)

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`I am 200 percent innocent,’ Robinho tells his pals

January 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan.29 (ANI): Brazilian striker Robinho has told friends he is “200 per cent” innocent of an allegation that he raped a teenager in a Leeds nightclub.
Robinho said that he went voluntarily to see the police after the complaint was made and is co-operating fully with detectives.

Publicity surrounding the claim has left the life of Britain’s most expensive footballer “in a mess,” according to his friends.

The Telegraph says that he has been arrested and questioned after an undergraduate student claimed she was attacked in the early hours of the morning at Space nightclub in Leeds on January 14.

The alleged victim is an undergraduate student at a Yorkshire university.

The paper quoted a source close to the player as telling the Manchester Evening News: “He is 200 per cent innocent. He is co-operating with the police. The appointment with the police was made last week. We advised the police he had a personal issue to sort in Brazil.

“He came back to Manchester and trained on Monday. On Tuesday, everybody in the club knew he was going to the police and he went voluntarily to the police. He was questioned as part of a criminal investigation. There is an allegation against him. He told the truth and nothing more than the truth and he was released. He did not give a sample of DNA. He did not have to pay (a surety) to be released. He left by the front door and went home,” the source added.

“He’s totally innocent but his life is a mess right now. The club is being very supportive and we hope everything is cleared up in the course of time,” he said. (ANI)

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Manchester City-supported Robinho puts up a star performance

January 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan.29 (ANI): Brazilian soccer ace Robinho has received the full backing of the Manchester City team management and team members, days after he was accused of raping a girl in Leeds.

Currently out on police bail, Robinho showcased that support by putting in a star performance on the pitch on Wednesday, forgetting his off-field drama.

The Manchester City striker was cheered after laying on the opening goal in the 2-1 home win over Newcastle United.

He then joined scorer Shaun Wright-Phillips to celebrate, ignoring jeers from the Geordie supporters.

Brazilian Robinho is Britain’s most expensive player at 32.5 million pounds, – was playing just 24 hours after being quizzed by cops over the allegation by a student.
During the game City fans taunted relegation-threatened Newcastle with chants of “Going down, going down, going down”.

Magpies fans responded “So is he, so is he, so is he” – a dig at Robinho’s possible fate if he is charged and later convicted.

Robinho was cheered again at the final whistle.

Earlier he had been warmly welcomed by his teammates when he turned up for training.

A City insider said: “The whole team is backing Robinho.”

The 25-year-old has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and has given his DNA sample and was photographed and questioned at a police station.

The student alleges he attacked her in the VIP area of Space nightclub in Leeds.(ANI)

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Robinho denies nightclub girl’s ‘sex attack’ allegation

January 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan.28 (ANI): Twenty-five-year-old Brazilian striker Robinho has denied a nightclub girl’s ‘sex attack’ allegation, saying he voluntarily spoke to West Yorkshire Police officers for several hours about the so-called incident before being released on bail.

“He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to co-operate with the police if required further,” his spokesman said.

The 18-year-old student claimed she was sexually assaulted two weeks ago in the VIP section of the Space nightclub in Leeds. She said she was having a night out with friends.

It is believed police were hoping to interview Robinho, who earns 165,000 pounds a week, when Manchester City returned from training in Tenerife last week. But he made an unscheduled trip back to Brazil, without telling Man City manager Mark Hughes. He was later reported to have returned home to attend to “urgent family business”.

Robinho lives in Cheshire with girlfriend Vivian Guglielmetti. They have a 13-month-old son called Robson junior. (ANI)

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Brazilian football star Robinho arrested for rape, released on bail

January 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan.28 (ANI): Brazilian soccer ace Robinho was arrested for rape on Tuesday soon after flying back from his own country.

A Yorkshire University female student made the rape charge. The rape is alleged to have happened in the early hours of January 14, in the VIP area of the Space nightclub. It was reported to police that afternoon.

According to The Sun, Robinho had gone to Leeds with his teammates for a night out.
The star had spent a week in San Paulo, Brazil, when Manchester City bosses sent a private plane to pick him up.

British detectives had planned to speak to him after City’s training camp in Tenerife earlier this month, but they were stunned to learn he had gone to Sao Paulo, without his club’s permission, citing “personal reasons”, believed to be his 25th birthday.

He arrived back in the UK on Sunday and had a pre-arranged meeting with West Yorkshire POlice officers yesterday. He returned to Manchester last night after being released on bail, the tabloid reports.

Last night,his spokesman Chris Nathaniel said:”He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to co-operate with the police if required further.”(ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: 25th birthday, allegation, Brazilian football, brazilian soccer, british detectives, criminality, football star, jan 28, london jan, manchester city, personal reasons, police officers, private plane, rape charge, robinho, san paulo brazil, vip area, west yorkshire police, wrongdoing, yorkshire university

Manchester City slap Robinho with 320, 000 pound fine

January 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Jan. 27 (ANI): Manchester City’s owner Sheikh Mansour has backed team coach Mark Hughes’s decision to slap Brazilian striker Robinho with a 320,000 fine for skipping a training session in the Tenerife to return to his hometown San Paolu in Brazil.

A Daily Express report said that Hughes has clearly told Robinho that he will not tolerate any further breaches of club discipline.

Hughes had the clear-the-air talks with Robinho when the player returned to training after going AWOL from the squad’s mid-winter break in Tenerife last week to spend five days in Brazil.

Apart from fining Robinho two weeks’ wages, Hughes made it clear to his 12-goal leading scorer there could be no special treatment for any players, regardless of status, reputation or transfer valuation.

Hughes knows he had to act because if he had not, his reputation for rigid discipline would have been left in tatters and he would have been open to accusations of favouritism from the other players.

Before the meeting, Hughes said: “I will deal with Robinho in such a way that I absolutely would not expect this to happen again. I feel confident that if there was a longer problem with any player, even Robinho, I would have the go-ahead from Sheikh Mansour to deal with it in whatever way I saw fit.”
I have always felt that top players are easier to control because they have a professional maturity and a winning mentality,” he added.

Hughes is angered by suggestions he constantly needs to reassure Robinho of City’s ambitions.

Hughes said: “People talk about making assurances to Robinho but any reassurances would just be repetition. He knows how I feel. I have no problems with good footballers. The ones that are a problem are those that have a higher opinion of their ability than is apparent and a higher opinion of their worth to the team.”

However, there was a conflicting report by The Sun that said Robinho breezed back into Manchester City yesterday and escaped the expected rocket from boss Mark Hughes.

After a week away in Brazil, Robinho did not have a care in the world as he laughed and joked at the training ground.

The pair had what was described as a “brief grown-up conversation” and Robinho, 25, was not fined.

Then the Brazilian departed for a meeting with a group that included his father Gilvan, his lawyer and accountant.

A source close to his advisors said: “There was no showdown between Robinho and Hughes. He doesn’t feel he has done anything wrong.” (ANI)

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