Mancini hopes Robinho will stay

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insists he wants record signing Robinho to stay at Eastlands - but only if the striker is happy.

Robinho told a Brazilian radio station that he has been told by club directors he was leaving the club - with Brazilian club Santos set to sign him on loan. But after watching the player apparently sign off with a late goal in the 4-2 FA Cup fourth round win at Scunthorpe, Mancini denied any knowledge of an imminent Robinho exit.

"Hopefully in the end Robinho will stay here. In the next day the situation can change but at the moment he stays here and I am very happy for him," said Mancini.

"I hope he will stay here but it is important he will stay here happy and enjoy it. He is a very good player. I think he is enjoying Manchester.

"I think one player can stay in a squad only if he is happy - if he wants to play every game and if he wants to work every day. That is most important because the players and manager must be happy."

Mancini went on to insist the fact that today was Robinho's first City start since Boxing Day had little bearing on his desire or otherwise to keep him in the squad.

Mancini added: "I have five or six strikers and I must decide every game between them. It's impossible to play with four strikers. Robinho didn't play against Manchester United but he played in this game."