Roberto Mancini insists Robinho can still have a future at Manchester City Football Club.

The Brazilian moved to Eastlands for a British record £32.5million in the summer of 2008, but despite occasional glimpses of brilliance, he has been largely disappointing.

Robinho has now sealed a six-month loan move to one of his former club, Santos, but Mancini insists the forward will then return to Manchester to try and stake a place in the Blues side.

“I said if you want to stay here I will be happy, but if you want to go to Brazil, you can go," he said. "He said, 'okay, I will go back to Brazil for six months because the World Cup is coming'.

"But after the World Cup I think he can make it here. He will come back here because, for me, he is a fantastic player and he has good talent.”

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