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City release Petrov, Benjani and Sylvinho

Martin Petrov has left Manchester City © Getty Images

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Manchester City have trimmed their squad ahead of an expected summer spending spree by releasing Benjani, Martin Petrov and Sylvinho.

All three players, who were out of contract, moved to the margins of the squad after Roberto Mancini took charge of the Citizens in December.

Benjani was shipped out on loan to Sunderland last season, while veterans Petrov and Sylvinho featured only intermittently for the Eastlands outfit.

Bulgarian international Petrov was the most successful of the group, netting 15 goals from 57 starts after being brought to the club by Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007.

City are expected to be big movers in the transfer market this summer as they seek to push forward from last season's fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

They have already secured the services of German defender Jerome Boateng, who joined from Hamburg over the weekend for a fee in excess of £10 million. City's attempts to sign James Milner from Aston Villa have so far been less successful - a bid has been rejected - but they appear determined to continue their pursuit of the midfielder.

Robinho looks set to follow the trio out of the exit door after his representative Evandro de Souza made clear the player's desire to represent Barcelona. The Brazililan international, who spent a spell last season on loan at Santos, was once on the books of Barca's great rivals Real Madrid.

"Any player in the world would love to play at a club like Barca," de Souza told Sport. "The stay at Santos was perfect for the World Cup. If you have a good tournament, it will open the doors of the big European clubs, including Barcelona."

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