Robinho's battle to stay in mega-rich Manchester City's side

It is 12 months now since Manchester City conducted what remains one of the most jaw-dropping piece of transfer business in Premier League history. To this day, though, it remains difficult to say whether the £32m purchase of Robinho has been a success. A player of enormous talent and no little personal charm, Robinho's City statistics are not bad. Fourteen goals in 31 league games last season is a record that is far from shabby. The Brazilian remains enigmatic, though. Brilliant one day and seemingly disinterested the next. But City manager Hughes doesn't really 'do' enigmatic and it will be interesting to see if Robinho flourishes in the long-term. Robinho Jury is out: Robinho has a good goalscoring record but can be enigmatic at times Dropped for the game at Portsmouth on Sunday after a poor showing at Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup, Robinho was replaced by the energy and endeavour of Craig Bellamy. It was the right choice. Such is the size of City's squad now - and it will get bigger in January - it is feasible that Robinho could be used as an impact player; the right player for the right game. Certainly he will start against Arsenal a week on Saturday. By all accounts his attitude this season has been much improved, due in no small part to the sale of soul-mate and anti-Hughes agitator Elano. He has also gone on record as saying that he will thrive this term now that the spotlight is not only on him. If he really means that than Hughes could get the best out of him. It does, however, seem rather unlikely that a world star Robinho will revel in the role of bit-part player. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1210270/Robinhos-battle-stay-mega-rich-Manchester-Citys-side.html#ixzz0PtEiVvRF

Source: Daily_Mail

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