Manchester City will let record signing Robinho go to Barcelona
in the summer, but he must stay at Eastlands this season to help
the club fight for Champions League qualification.
City decided to keep their £34million Brazilian when it became
clear they would not be able to sign another marquee name in the
January transfer window.
Hang about: Robinho is needed for the club's
Champions League challenge
Instead, City's spending in the new year will be on defensive
recruits with Sporting Lisbon's £18m centre-half Daniel Carrico,
21, also watched by neighbours Manchester United, on their
radar.
Robinho, 25, will miss today's game at Birmingham, although he
is close to returning from a stress fracture of the ankle. City
need another star name to replace him, but Thierry Henry wants to
go to MLS side New York Red Bulls, while Bayern Munich and France
star Franck Ribery will not be available until next season.
Hughes has missed out on Ronaldinho, Kaka and Chelsea captain
John Terry.
