Mark Hughes sets the record straight

With firm control of the situation, Mark Hughes calmed reports, albeit misguided ones, of the clubs relationship with Robinho unwinding stating via the Citizens web-site:

“Robbie left without permission, he felt that he had personal things that he needed to attend to. He made the decision to leave the camp, and go back to Brazil. That was not with my permission, and the situation at the moment is not really practical to get him back here with time differences and length of flights, so he will be back at the weekend ready to train when we are back in Manchester at the first available opportunity.

“Once he is back, I will sit down with him and explain my feelings, and decisions will be made after that. He has rung me, and he understands that we need to address this - and we will. Then we will move on.

“He obviously felt that there were certain things that he needed to address back home, and so, wrongly, he made that decision to go back to Brazil. But he will be back at the weekend, then we will make sure that he knows my feelings and I am sure we will get a more detailed explanation from Robbie.”

Of the matter that some linked the end of the Kaká deal with his departure, the manager said:

“He has already said that himself, and he was on a plane back to Brazil when the Kaka deal was dead and buried. People trying to link the two are trying to cause a little bit of mischief.”