The Blues are holding fire on what to do about their £32.5m British record signing until after his national team take on Oman in a friendly on Tuesday.
But manager Mark Hughes is not impressed that he learned of Robinho's decision to stay with Brazil - when he was expected to return to City's Abu Dhabi training camp - from journalists.
He wants to talk to the star to find out what made him stay in Qatar after it had been agreed he would simply fly there to make it plain he was not fit to play after ten weeks out with a stress fracture of the ankle.
Robinho was subsequently ruled out of Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over England, momentarily easing the tension between player, club and country.
But the Barcelona target's statement that he may be fit for tomorrow's game now puts the spotlight back on him.
Hughes had virtually ruled the player out of making his comeback at Liverpool next Saturday, with the following week's Premier League home game against Hull pencilled in for his return.
With patience fast running out, City have looked at a number of alternatives, including Benfica midfielder Angel de Maria.
The Argentina international has been in inspirational form for the Portuguese club in this season's European Cup.
One stumbling block in landing the 21-year-old would be the £36m buy-out clause in a contract which runs until 2015.
More likely in the winter transfer window would be a bid for Barca's Yaya Toure, despite his agent claiming he would not countenance a move to Eastlands.
Reports emanating out of Spain claim that the Catalan giants have been negotiating with Liverpool's Javier Mascherano.
That move would pave the way out of the Nou Camp for Kolo Toure's brother, who was Hughes' first choice as holding midfielder last winter, before he landed Nigel de Jong.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
David Humphreys, San Francisco (16/11/2009 at 08:59)
Harry Dowd's Broken Finger, Guildford (16/11/2009 at 09:03)
Brazil decide whether Robinho stays with them not City. In fact it may benefit us for him to play as the game tomorrow night is an exhibition match.
The Benfica president yesterday went on record to say Di Maria will not leave in January.
CITY WILL TEAR US APART, manchester (16/11/2009 at 09:05)
City Slipper, Manchester (16/11/2009 at 09:09)
I will be very surprised if Robinho pulls on a City shirt again.
I would like to see some rumours about us being in the market for a left back unless Sylvinho is to feature more this season or maybe some more creative midfield talent.
Onuoha for central defence please.
crazy p, sheffield (16/11/2009 at 09:11)
mr bump, badlands (16/11/2009 at 09:22)
how about concentrate on hardman neville's ridiculous comments about refs ? how about slapping them down for disrespecting football ? if robinho was at home we'd no doubt arrange a behind closed doors match v macclesfield for his benefit and give him 60mins...why is that different to playing against oman ?? if everyone was sensible then no harm done.
Blue Moon..., Manchester (16/11/2009 at 09:40)
maddogblue, Cheadle (16/11/2009 at 09:43)
PJS, Oz (16/11/2009 at 09:45)
Make him stay the season, dont let him move to Barca or anywhere. Make him play, if his heart isnt in it then bench him and let him rot.
Brazil will be grateful for having a player in June that has played less than 3 full games in a full season, not to mention not match fit before Dunga has to name a 23 man squad. For a manager that has to say the least had his share of critics back home, i'd like to see him pick Robinho ahead of the likes of Pato or Diego come May. Dunga will have to back into the pressure.
This can go one of 2 ways. All parties win: Brazil do what's best for the player, Robi gets to fitness, commits to the cause for the 2nd half of the season and the team bears the fruits before he is allowed to leave for Barca, not to mention being in form for the World Cup. Or we shouldnt be afraid to go down the other route, Brazil & Robi can face the consequences for trying to make this into a circus......we lose a bit of pocket change.
Hazel Grove Blue since 1960 (16/11/2009 at 09:47)
Eric, Dutch (16/11/2009 at 09:51)
SDS (16/11/2009 at 10:12)
all this constant talk of will he stay will he go is no good at all, it is unsettling the club, the fans, when the focus should be 100% on the team and not on any individual. I got fed up with Ade constantly going on about Arsenal, but the Robinho saga is much worse, 30m income should find us a quality player who is dedcated to our club and who sees us as club going places, robinho thinks big, he will i am sure want to play for Barcelona, but it was not that long ago he was utterly fed up with madrid.
Once rumours of player leaving start the same player can end the speculation immediately by calling a press conference, he hasnt done , so for me get rid and do so asap.
All Blue Tinners, Blackley (16/11/2009 at 10:17)
Its very clear to see that its the Papers and the Lazy journalists that invent such lies and Garbage! But the sad part about it all is that there is so many fickle fans knocking around that actually believe the fiction stories they publish!!!! Just reading some of the comments posted on hear makes me cringe!!!! Its pathetic!
We should all stick up for OUR players and OUR club, and critise those who are trying to prevent us from reaching the top!!! Its called 'SUPPORT'!!!!!!!!!!!
Cabeeno (16/11/2009 at 10:26)
Peter Beagrie`s beagle (16/11/2009 at 10:30)
Robbi is an exciting player when he decides he wants to play, his performances and the goals he scored last season are proof of that, but as we all know, he is not consistant enough.
Every player can have an off day or a lack of form, but it`s when it becomes a regular happening, that it becomes a problem. The one thing you had to admire about the ladyboy was his mainly consistant performances, week in, week out, that`s why he cost the Spaniards what he did.
However, who do we replace Robbi with if he went to Barca?? Certainly not Ya Ya in my opinion, whoever we tried to get would they come? We have Robbi under contract, it`s up to the manager to get the best out of the player, not the other way round. CTID
Bluekev, Stockport (16/11/2009 at 10:38)
expatblue , Australia (16/11/2009 at 10:39)
Camberwell Blue, London (16/11/2009 at 10:40)
LETS HAVE SOME UNBIASED REPORTING M.E.N.
Brissy Blue, Brisbane, Australia (16/11/2009 at 10:43)
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (16/11/2009 at 10:45)
we have drawn five games mostly against poor sides;
Robinho wants to leave;
Tevez wants to quit;
Adebayor looks like he mainly came here in order to irritate arsenal;
Lescott and Bridge look much better for England than they do for us;
Petrov is unhappy;
Santa is unfit and doesn't look up to it;
MR is in decline;
The team appears to have no morale. Bellamy, we are told, is supposed to gee up the others. But that is the manager's job, Bell should concentrate on playing. If he works on MH's behalf the others won't trust him. Think about it - if, at work, you had someone who was always getting at you as the boss's voice.
Apart form all that we appear to be sailing into seventh.
BlueSkies Warrington, warrington (16/11/2009 at 10:51)
Went to Wembley in '56, USA (16/11/2009 at 10:54)
Chapman (16/11/2009 at 10:56)
The club doctor,Jamie Butler, was sent by the club to manage the situation medically between Robinho and Brazil.Good move by the club.
What's the problem?.
The MEN is starting to irritate me now with these stories,there must be ten on these pages now, as much as the 'Telegraph' and 'Sun'.
karen tyler (16/11/2009 at 11:00)
Brazil showed how it was done, one touch passing - hardly rocket science!
Press having a go at Lescott, actually thought he was ok but Brown and Foster! Just because they play for United, pathetic! I would have dropped SWP, Barry and Bridge from the City team by now!
Just because players are in the top 6 teams, manager thinks they must be good, I really don't think this England team will reach the semis even with the others back, the England defence is no better than City,s and the attack much worse!
gerry crainey is a legend!!! (16/11/2009 at 11:10)
hes not commited to the cause, doesnt want to fight for his place, and lets face it he doesnt want to be here!!!
if we get back what we paid we will be laughing and i honestly think that!!!
CTID