Barclays PL: Robinho is back

Manchester City have grabbed the spotlight on the eve of the Premier League season, with Robinho named in their 25-man squad list on Friday and Mario Balotelli flying in for a medical.

Coach Roberto Mancini, who also looks like selling striker Craig Bellamy and midfielder Stephen Ireland in the next few days and buying James Milner from Aston Villa, was his usual calm self at a news conference despite all the comings and goings.

He said Robinho was in his 25-man squad and added he would sit down with the unsettled Brazil striker next week to thrash out his future.

Robinho has made no secret of the fact he wants to stay with Brazilian club Santos, where he has been on loan since January, after an unhappy spell at Eastlands.

This season the Premier League has imposed a 25-man limit on squads, with eight "home-grown" players included in that number. That is putting extra pressure on coaches who are being forced to let some players leave.

Even though Robinho favours a return to Santos, the Brazilians do not have the money for a permanent transfer and he could be used as a bargaining tool in the deal to bring Balotelli from Inter Milan.

Mancini said the Italian striker, who was 20 on Thursday, was heading to Manchester to undergo a medical while England midfielder Milner could also follow over the weekend.

Balotelli, who made his international debut against Ivory Coast in London on Tuesday, will cost City around 24 million pounds and Mancini said he expected the deal to be concluded within 24 hours.

"We are close," said the coach. "I think he could be a big success at this club."

One player heading out is Bellamy who said last week he had not spoken to Mancini for six months and knew he was not part of the Italian's plans.

The Wales striker will not play for City again, according to Mancini, and is free to find a new club with Celtic, Sunderland and Fulham heading the queue to sign him.

Eagerly looking forward to the beginning of this championship :-)