The Brazilian forward is at the Emirates Palace training camp with the Blues squad as he recovers from an ankle problem that has kept him out of action since the end of August.
He will not be playing in Thursday night’s friendly against the UAE national side but could be back in first team action by the end of the month if all goes well.
Then Robinho will aid the Blues bid to maintain a place amongst the Premier League front runners.
“There are no plans to meet Barcelona here this week to talk about Robinho,” stressed CEO Garry Cook after the forward helped open the club’s new training facility in Abu Dhabi.
“I think some people are trying to make mischief when they talk about him leaving. I don’t know where these things are coming from. They’re not coming from us. We want to talk to him this week but only about getting him fit to play for us again.
We have had no conversations whatsoever with Barcelona with regards to the loan or transfer of Robinho. Any suggestion to the contrary is totally and utterly without foundation.
...Garry Cook blasts rumours
Those words were supplemented by manager Mark Hughes who has gone out of his way several times in recent weeks to re-iterate that Robinho is and will remain at the City of Manchester Stadium.
“We are concentrating on getting Robinho fit. We are looking to integrate him back into sessions. He will be checked by the Brazil national team doctors tomorrow and then we fully expect to have him released back to us,” he said.
I am quite clear and Robinho should be quite clear that his future is very much with City.
...Mark Hughes emphasises the point
“There is no reason to think that will change any time soon. All those stories do not originate from anyone from City.
“Then he can come back with us and get back up to speed for when the rest of the group returns after the international break.
“He has been out for a significant amount of time so he needs training and game time as well so we will not be putting a date on when he might play. As soon as he is ready he will be a great option for us.”
