Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

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Robinho fuels City exit talk

04 Sep 2009 - 09:26:07

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Doubts about Robinho's future at Manchester City have resurfaced after the Brazil international revealed that he asked to be left out of the 1-0 win at Portsmouth so that he would be fit for his country's World Cup qualifier against Argentina.

The 25-year-old played in City's first three matches of the campaign but was surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up at Fratton Park.

His outburst, just over 12 months after he sealed his shock £32.5million transfer to Eastlands, has revived talk that the former Real Madrid star could be on the move again when the transfer window reopens in January.

Robinho said: "I asked to not play because I had pains in the ankle, especially because Brazil against Argentina is more important.

"It is always a special match because of the rivalry of the two teams. No one ever wants to lose. Every player likes to play in these matches.

"Of course Carlos (Tevez) has expressed concern because Argentina are in a much more difficult situation than us."

It is not the first time Robinho has tested City's patience. When the club failed to lure Kaka to Eastlands in January, he left a training camp to head back to Brazil without telling boss Mark Hughes.

Since moving to City, Robinho has scored 15 goals in 44 appearances for the club.