• Premier League

Mancini confirms Robinho talks with Brazilian clubs

ESPN Soccernet staff
January 26, 2010
Robinho is desperate to boost his chances of playing for Brazil at the World Cup © Getty Images
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has confirmed the club is holding talks with both Santos and Sao Paolo over a potential loan move for Robinho.

Robinho revealed at the weekend that he hoped to return to Santos and said he felt it was 90% likely a deal would go through. Mancini has now confirmed there is a good chance Robinho could return to Brazil if a satisfactory arrangement over his wages and the length of the deal can be made, and says the move is the result of the player's desire for first-team football.

"The World Cup in June is a big problem for him," Mancini said. "He wants to play for the national team. I understand that but I must decide what is best for the team. I have five or six strikers to choose from, which makes it difficult for him and me."

Robinho will be included in the squad for the second leg of City's Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Wednesday, and he could be joined by both Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

Adebayor returned to training on Monday and declared himself available despite his horrific experience at the African Nations Cup in Angola with Togo, who pulled out of the competition following the shooting which left three of their party dead. Toure, meanwhile, was part of the Ivory Coast team that crashed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage to England's World Cup opponents Algeria on Sunday.

"I spoke with Emmanuel yesterday," Mancini said. "He is training with us now and I think he will be ready to be on the bench. We won't see Kolo until tomorrow and I need to see how he has recovered before I decide whether he is also on the bench or whether he plays. I am sad for him that the Ivory Coast got knocked out - but I am happy for us.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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