NEWS ROUND-UP:ROBINHO'S representatives are to fly into England next week to inform Manchester City that the Brazil forward has no intention of returning to the Premier League next season.
The most expensive player in the history of the English game, signed from Real Madrid for €39 million in September 2008, has been on loan at Santos after becoming disillusioned with life in Manchester and arguing with City’s manager, Roberto Mancini, someone he has since described as managing with “a lack of ability”.
The official line from City is that they want him to return on August 3rd when his loan expires but, behind the scenes, there is a growing acceptance that the man who was supposed to symbolise the club’s brave new world under the billionaire ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group has no place in their future plans.
“We have a meeting with City on June 16th,” Evandro de Souza, one of the player’s advisers, said yesterday. “I will travel to Manchester with Gilvan de Souza [Robinho’s father] and we will look at the situation. We know that City are looking for a club for Robinho.” He added: “The relationship between Robinho and the board at Manchester City is very good, although it’s true that there are some problems with the coach.”
Barcelona spoke extensively to Robinho’s camp last season and the Brazil international, currently with Dunga’s squad preparing for the World Cup, hopes the Spanish champions resurrect that interest.
“Any footballer in the world would love to play for Barca,” De Souza said.
One possibility is that Robinho could be offered in a player swap for Yaya Toure, whom City have coveted since Mark Hughes was manager. However, City believe Barcelona would rather use Toure in a possible player-plus-cash exchange with Arsenal for Cesc Fabregas.
City have already signed Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for €12 million and will renew their interest in James Milner of Aston Villa after the World Cup, having failed with an opening bid of €21 million plus €2 million in add-ons.
Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko is another target but City have been frustrated by the German club’s €36 million valuation.
They have received little encouragement in their pursuit of Everton’s Mikel Arteta and are also having trouble persuading Valencia’s David Silva to consider moving to Manchester.
City trio Martin Petrov, Benjani Mwaruwari and Sylvinho will all leave Eastlands this summer after the club opted not to offer them new contracts.
Guardian Service
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)