Mancini backs struggling Brazilian Robinho
January 18, 2010 - 0:0
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insisted Robinho still has a future at the club after he was humiliatingly substituted at Everton on Saturday.
The Brazilian international replaced the injured Roque Santa Cruz after nine minutes - but was himself substituted on the hour by Shaun Wright-Phillips.""Is it the end of the line for Robinho? No. He is a good player,"" said Mancini, after City's 2-0 defeat.
""Like everyone in the squad, he needs to work hard and play well.""
Mancini added: ""I had
[Craig] Bellamy, Benjani
[Mwaruwari],
[Carlos] Tevez, Robinho - all strikers - so I decided to take one off."".
Robinho, 25, who has failed to score for City since May 2009, was recently linked with a move to Barcelona.
However, the Spanish club called off their attempt to sign the Brazilian.
Robinho told BBC Sport in December 2009 that his long-term future was at the Manchester club, despite failing to reach the expected heights there.
""I am very happy here. I think I
[will] stay here five years or 10 years, I don't know,"" he told Football Focus.
""My family is very happy, the fans love me and I love the fans.""
The striker joined City from Real Madrid in August 2008 for a British record fee of £32.5m.
(Source: BBC)