Brazil star Robinho vows to stay at Manchester City

Manchester City’s Brazilian forward Robinho has told BBC Sport that he sees his long-term future at the club and denies that he is looking to move away.

The 25-year-old joined City from Real Madrid in August 2008 for a British record fee of £32.5m but has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

“I am very happy here. I think I [will] stay here five years or 10 years, I don’t know,” he told Football Focus.

“My family is very happy, the fans love me and I love the fans.”

Robinho has started only four league games this season, an ankle injury picked up while on international duty in September having sidelined him in recent weeks.

The link with Barcelona has intensified while he has been out of action and in October he was quoted as saying he was happy about the link to the Camp Nou, although he denied trying to engineer a move to Barca.

Despite his career at Eastlands not quite hitting the expected heights so far, Robinho has stressed that he is content with life in the Premier League.

“I am enjoying playing English football. It is very beautiful,” he added. “With every game I play, I feel more comfortable. I hope to continue playing football in England for a long time.”

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Expectations at Eastlands soared after their summer spending spree, only for a run of seven consecutive draws to hold back Mark Hughes’ team.

But City hammered Arsenal to reach the Carling Cup semi-finals and beat Premier League leaders Chelsea last Saturday. And Robinho has called on his team-mates to build on the momentum of that victory.

“We were really happy to win on Saturday,” said the Brazilian, who returned to action in the 1-1 draw at home to Hull on 28 November.

“But the most important thing now is to win. There are still a lot of games to go and we want to be top.

“To finish in the top four would not be bad but we are going to fight for the title until the end.

“I think the morale of the team is improving. It is a winning spirit and our mentality has to be that of the team that wants to win and that wants to be champions.

“We have a great manager in Mark Hughes. He has proved this in all the teams he has managed and is showing that now with Manchester City.

“He has a great relationship with all the players, including me, and I hope that this year we can be champions together; that is our goal.”