The New Robinho for the Old Robinho

Perhaps by coincidence, a couple of pieces of news have filtered our way from Santos today. Firstly, Robinho, who seems to speak to the press almost daily (with constantly conflicting views), is reported in the Guardian to have called for an end to his City career. The wee forward, who contributed in a 10-0 routing of a fairly shambolic provincial side this week, says you only have to look at his face to ascertain what wonders Brazil is doing for his happiness, and that he hopes "that the board is already addressing the issue." Bringing us tidily to the second news story.

The agent of "the new Robinho" - 18 year old Neymar - has been talking up the chances of his player making a switch to either City or Chelsea as early as this summer. The figure quoted, in accordance with Neymar's release fee, is £32million - a large sum that could be seen as the first stake in the bargaining for Robinho's switch the other way.

Robinho is a bit of a luxury player in the Premier League - a league to which he has struggled to settle - and I would suggest City are happy to let him find a new home in the summer. In the pre-Sunderland press conference, Mancini said that "it depends on how happy he is" when quizzed about the possibility of Robinho returning. This is the kind of diplomatic answer a manager may give when moves are being negogiated.

Neymar - not the player who said he wouldn't play for City - is young enough not to succumb to the fate of many Brazilians in England. If City could get him at 18 then there is some time for him to adapt to the English game. It also fits in with the official (but not entirely believable) line that big money transfer fees will now only be concentrated on securing the best of international youth talent.

I imagine a deal would be done a good way underneath the £32m quoted, but City, if anyone, are in the luxury position to gamble money on promising youth players. Also, if it could sooth the alledged woes of our own expensive Brazilian at the same time, then I imagine it could be a deal to satisfy all parties.