SOCCER: Brazilian star Robinho insists he is happy at Manchester City and left the club's training camp in Tenerife to return to home for family reasons. He left the Canary island yesterday amid speculation he stormed out following the club's failure to complete a deal for fellow Brazilian and AC Milan star Kaka.

However, the former Real Madrid forward told BBC Sport: "I had made Manchester City aware that I needed to return to Brazil because of a family matter.

“I will return to the club and hope to sort this out as soon as possible.”

Robinho added: “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 to stay in Milan.

“I am committed to helping Manchester City become the force the owners assured me they will become.”

The Blues smashed the British transfer record when they splashed out £32.5million on the 24-year-old in August last year.

Widely assumed to be joining Chelsea, Robinho plumped for City when Real Madrid refused to do business with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

On a personal level, Robinho has been a success, netting 12 goals for his new club - all but one of which have come in the Premier League - and becoming an instant hit with the City faithful.

However, City’s failure to establish themselves in the top half of the table under manager Mark Hughes is bound to be the source of disappointment.

The striker has been giving Hughes some advice over his team building, claiming last week that even though he would like to see Kaka at Eastlands, defensive reinforcements were the priority.