Robinho looks to be heading out of Manchester City after suffering the embarrassment of being substituted by manager Roberto Mancini 51 minutes after coming off the bench.
City's £32.5million signing was given the chance to impress as a ninth-minute replacement for the injured Roque Santa Cruz at Everton on Saturday, but the Brazilian was taken off on the hour after a negligible contribution to his side's 2-0 defeat.
Mancini did little to back his player, saying: 'Does he have a future here? All players try to work hard during the week in training and that is the most important thing. If he wants a future here, then, yes, that is what he has to do. Walk of shame: Robinho is substituted against Everton by Roberto Mancini
'I thought Robinho could have been a big player for us here, but sometimes a player is on form and sometimes he is off.
'I wanted to change the situation in the second half and if that means taking him off, then I will. I cannot worry about him, only about the result.' City are likely to sell their Brazilian misfit for a sizeable fee in the summer.
THE Premier League are unlikely to investigate David Moyes’ comments that Manchester City "broke rules" in their pursuit of Joleon Lescott after confirming they received no official complaint from Everton about the matter.
Everton played City yesterday for the first time since Lescott’s £22million move between the two clubs in August, although the England defender did not feature due to a knee injury.
Writing in Everton’s programme notes before his side’s 2-0 victory, Moyes accused the Eastlands outfit of breaking rules in their handling of the transfer, but did not specify how regulations had been breached. He said: "There is no doubt Manchester City treated us with little respect and broke rules in the summer transfer of Joleon Lescott.
"I found it very difficult to accept that a club with so many similarities to Everton should suddenly start acting with no class."
In the run-up to the transfer last summer, Moyes described City’s pursuit of the centre-back as "disgusting" and said "it has not been handled correctly from over there".
But a spokesman for the Premier League yesterday confirmed Everton had at no point made contact with them about City.
It is understood it would take a formal complaint from a club for them to look into the matter further.
After a lengthy transfer saga, City finally sealed the signing of Lescott on a five- year deal as part of a huge summer outlay on new players made possible by the wealth of the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.
Why Joe Cole should turn City down B*ll*x?
IF FOOTBALL is only about money to the game’s top players, then Joe Cole will be at Manchester City next season.
Chelsea’s England midfield star must soon make the biggest decision of his career.
Does he stay in London at Stamford Bridge on an SDHp extra £20,000 a week or join City’s billionaire dressing room?
At 28, it is a dilemma for Cole, who has just returned after nine months out with a serious injury. Cole currently earns around £70,000 a week at Chelsea and is said to want another £50,000 to sign a new contract. His current deal runs out in June and he will be a free agent in the summer.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer and his old West Ham boss Harry Redknapp would love to take him to Spurs.
None of them, however, can match City’s proposed £150,000-a-week deal, plus a stunning £5m signing on fee. It is a head-turning proposition for Cole. With all these numbers flying around, dare I suggest to him that money is not the biggest issue? What Cole needs more than anything is to play.
He needs to feel really wanted and prove that, following his injury, he is not destined to be just a bit-part player. Cole is a good, versatile forward who can adapt just as easily in midfield or as a wide operator. We saw glimpses of his form in Chelsea’s 7-2 destruction of Sunderland on Saturday.
But he is not a world-class player, someone right up there with the best. What he has to ask himself as City’s Abu Dhabi owners continue to splash out is would he simply get lost in a massive squad.
The sky is the limit for City and top players will be targeted from all over the world. Manager Roberto Mancini’s long-term future is not even guaranteed if City don’t finish in the top four.
Cole could disappear in that if he is not careful and, while City’s money is attractive, it should not be the biggest influence on him when a final decision is made. Does he need the money? Surely not.
It would be refreshing if someone put ambition ahead of the City billions. Gareth Barry said he wanted to get away from Aston Villa to play some Champions League football and instead went to Eastlands for the money.
Cole would be making a big mistake if his eyes simply glazed over with pound signs. It is a huge decision. An England player in World Cup year juggling his options. Going to Spurs would be a step down for him and United are unlikely to offer more than Chelsea. Indeed, would he be a regular first choice at Old Trafford?
It is a situation in football that City have created. Money or your career. This is the most important contract of Cole’s life. He will never be able to make such demands again. I hope Cole stays at the Bridge to prove in football money isn’t everything.
A new £100,000-a-week contract is not the end of the world, is it?
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool are on the verge of signing Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones on loan, with the 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago star seen as perfect cover for the injured Fernando Torres. Daily Mail
Netherlands striker Ryan Babel will be swiftly shipped out of Liverpool after a row with manager Rafa Benitez sealed his fate and cost him a week's wages. Daily Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has though ruled out a straight swap between Babel and Jones. Bruce said: "The one thing I am trying to do is build the squad and build the squad to improve. The last thing I want to be doing is trade or anything like that." The Independent
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp could make a new and final move to sign goalkeeper David James - and save some money for Portsmouth, who are in huge debt and currently have a transfer embargo. Stoke ended their interest in James last week.Daily Mirror
Newcastle could be set to take on Peruvian striker Nolberto Solano for a third time after missing out on Jermaine Beckford, who has decided to stay with Leeds. Daily Mirror
Cash-strapped West Ham have slapped a staggering £15m price tag on England midfielder Scott Parker. Daily Mirror
Liverpool are battling with AC Milan over the services of striker Milan Jovanovic, 28, who is out of contract at Standard Liege at the end of the season.The Sun
Dundee United have rejected a £75,000 bid from Blackpool for Scotland's 21-year-old centre-half Garry Kenneth.
Daily Record
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... elle-marsh
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand could make a shock return against neighbours Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday. It would be the England star's first game in three months after struggling with a back problem.Daily Star
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has undergone successful keyhole surgery on his right knee. Talking from the Barcelona hospital, the surgeon said: "If there are no problems, Fernando will be OK in six weeks."The Sun
Manchester United supporters fighting the Glazer family's ownership of the club are contemplating asking manager Sir Alex Ferguson to make the ultimate sacrifice and resign in protest. The Guardian
West Brom will pay tribute to the victims of the Haiti earthquake tragedy by wearing special logos on their shirts in their Championship clash with Newcastle on Monday night. The Sun
Premier League referee Mark Halsey is looking to be back in action within four weeks as he continues his battle with throat cancer. The 48-year-old said: "I didn't realise how popular I was as a ref but I suppose when I come back I won't be so popular!"
Full story: The Sun
