ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS ROUND-UP:MANCHESTER CITY, already deeply traumatised by the breakdown of Kaka's potential world-record transfer, are anxiously waiting to discover if Robinho wants to remain their player after his walk-out from the mid-season training camp in Tenerife.
Robinho reacted to the collapse of Kaka’s proposed €98 million deal by packing his suitcase and arranging for a private jet to take him back to Brazil. He left without informing manager Mark Hughes and has told his team-mates that he is seriously considering his future because of a combination of the club’s inability to bring in Kaka and the team’s poor results.
While his own form has justified the €35 million that City paid Real Madrid for him on transfer deadline day, Robinho has already questioned the club’s “lack of winning mentality”.
His impression of Hughes is said to have suffered and, having joined City ahead of Chelsea, he has been made aware that Luiz Felipe Scolari would still like to sign him, despite the financial restraints currently in place at Stamford Bridge.
Garry Cook, City’s executive chairman, responded last night by insisting that “the Kaka and Robinho issues are separate and unconnected”, but he also confirmed that Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon had asked him about more than one unspecified player.
Robinho, meanwhile, claimed he had the club’s permission to return to Brazil, and promised he would be back to face Newcastle next Wednesday. However, Cook confirmed Robinho had not received consent to go, describing the player’s behaviour as “very disappointing” and confirming that he would be fined.
“No player is bigger than the club,” said Cook. “This club has a lot more history and heritage than one person, so it’s disappointing. It doesn’t set good standards. Robinho hasn’t displayed the sense that he thinks he’s bigger than the team in the past.
“But this is a disciplinary matter. Mark has some clear guardrails around the discipline of footballers and the roles that they play. If Robinho has broken those then we will manage it internally.”
Whether it is more serious than that will be gauged only when Robinho returns from Brazil and, as yet, there is no confirmed date for his return. It is his 25th birthday on Sunday, and Robinho’s insistence that he was attending “a family matter” has caused a mixture of anger and bewilderment inside the club.
He had not informed them of any reason for compassionate leave, and the manner in which he left the hotel has infuriated Hughes, who knew nothing about it until the players sat down for a meal.
Hughes was described as “livid” and Robinho will be fined the maximum two weeks’ wages permissible under Professional Footballers’ Association guidelines.
“I will return to the club and hope to sort this out as soon as possible,” the most expensive player in British football said last night. “I feel it is important to underline that I did not return to Brazil because of the Kaka deal. He is one of my good friends and it would have been great to see him at Manchester City, but it had nothing to do with his decision. I am committed to helping Manchester City become the force the owners assured me they will become.”
Robinho also put a similar message on his website, but he is known to be gravely disappointed by Kaka’s decision and has begun to question how long it will be before City, despite the immense wealth of the Abu Dhabi United Group, are in a genuine position to challenge for trophies.
“I haven’t heard of that,” Cook said. “And I would be surprised if anyone told me he is unsettled. Mark Hughes has not told me he (Robinho) is unsettled. He seems very settled when he is scoring for our team.
“I would be very disappointed if the happiness of players at our club was dependent on other players coming into the club. That would really disappoint me.”
It has been a chastening 48 hours for City, and Cook went on the attack against Milan, accusing them of “bottling” the Kaka transfer and being “unprofessional”.
GuardianService
