Manchester City Football Club News

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

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Robinho persuaded by Hughes

23 Sep 2008 - 09:16:29

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has admitted that record signing Robinho needed some persuading to make the move to Eastlands from Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old Brazil ace joined City on transfer deadline day for a fee in excess of £30million and has made a flying start to his career in England, scoring twice in three games for Hughes' side.

Robinho had seemed all set to join Chelsea after making it known that he wanted to quit the Spanish giants, before City stepped in to seal the deal.

Hughes said: "The move happened very quickly for him. The key to it was he was determined to leave Real Madrid.

"We pitched to him, we said 'listen, this is where we need to go and we're going to bring in good players. We already have good players at our club and they will help you perform to a high standard'.

"Initially he showed signs of being apprehensive about the situation he found himself in, but he's had great support from his Brazil colleagues here - Elano, Jo and Glauber Berti.

"That apprehension went very, very quickly.

"When he was at Madrid he wanted to play every week and felt he wasn't getting that chance.

"Maybe he felt he wasn't going to be loved as much as, obviously, he is here."