ELANO has joined his countryman Robinho in declaring his desire to stay at City for as long as possible.

The Brazilian international, who will spend his summer attempting to ensure that his country qualifies for next year's World Cup in South Africa, is ready to talk about a new deal should the Blues hierarchy wish him to stay.

He has featured in the last three games on the right-hand side of midfield and scored twice from the penalty spot. Having started more than half the Premier League matches this season and taken his overall total to 61 and 16 substitute appearances, Elano, an £8m Sven Goran-Eriksson buy from Shakhtar Donetsk, is ready to commit himself to life at Eastlands.

The midfielder, who celebrates his 28th birthday during the close-season, has seemingly put behind him an early-season spat with boss Mark Hughes that led to a television outburst and a docking of his wages.

"I would love to renew my contract at City and remain here for a long time," declared the player ahead of the visit of Blackburn this weekend, the latest staging post along a trail that the Blues hope will end in a seventh place in the table and a Europa League spot next term.

"I love England and I enjoy living in Manchester. I am very happy here. I'd like to say thank you to all the supporters for making me so welcome since my arrival.

"I want to repay them for all the warmth and love they have given me and the best way I can do - that is out on the pitch. I would love to commit myself to City for many years. They make me feel very happy and I hope I can do the same for them.

"This is the end of my second season with City and if it were up to me I would be sat around a table discussing a contract extension right now."

Hopes

Elano's words raises raise hopes that at least two of the Blues four-man Brazil contingent (Jo and Berti are the other pair) will remain next season as City look for a top-six place.

British record signing Robinho has already expressed his wish to `make history' with City and the hope that his `brother' Elano stays to share the journey.

"Everyone who sees Elano play knows he is a very good player. He is an international with a lot of qualities but it is not for me to be in charge of transfer policy," declared Robinho when the subject was raised.

"As a friend and a teammate I hope he stays at City for many years to come."

Hughes has also been impressed with what he has seen from Elano in recent weeks, particularly to desire to put the team first, and he knows that he may face a tricky decision or two when Shaun Wright- Phillips returns to action in for the remaining three or four games of the campaign.

"Ela has done really well on the right since he came in and it is a role he knows well having played there many times for Brazil," said the manager, who has seen the midfielder score penalties against Hamburg and West Brom and make another goal for Robinho in the last three matches.

"He has a great understanding of what is needed and what has been evident is his willingness to really work hard to help the team and track back on occasions too. That has been a side of his game that he has been criticised for and has worked hard on.

"In an attacking sense he has had a real impact, but it is also about making sure we are not too exposed when we are away from home and he has done that. We have shown improved work ethic right through the team."

For more of Elano on life at City, see the official magazine, which is in the shops next Tuesday. It also contains an interview with Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong.