Robinho says he has no dispute with Manchester City

MANCHESTER, England — Brazil striker Robinho said Tuesday he has no dispute with Manchester City and is "committed" to helping the team become a force in the Premier League.

Robinho left the club's training camp in Tenerife on Monday, sparking reports that he had walked out for good. But Robinho said the club knew he was going back to his homeland for family reasons.

Robinho, who moved to City from Real Madrid last year for a British record transfer fee, left on the same day that AC Milan star Kaka turned down a world-record move to City.

"I would like to make it clear to the fans what the situation is, so that they can understand my decision to fly home to Brazil," Robinho said on his own Web site. "Earlier in the month I made Manchester City aware that I needed to return to Brazil, because of a family matter. The club agreed and I was grateful to them for this. Up until yesterday it was my understanding that the club had no problem with my plans."

He said Kaka's decision not to move to City had no bearing on his reasons to fly home.

"I feel it is important to underline that I did not return to Brazil because of the Kaka deal," Robinho said. "He is one of my good friends and it would have been great to see him at Manchester City. But it had nothing to do with his decision to stay in Milan.

"I will return to the club and hope to sort out this matter as soon as possible. I am committed to helping Manchester City become the force the owners assured me they will become."

Robinho's departure from the training camp could still land him in trouble with City, however.

"I do know Robinho is not at the training center in Tenerife," executive chairman Garry Cook said Tuesday. "If he has left the training ground it is a breach of club discipline. I am waiting for a full debrief."

City stunned the football world when it beat out Chelsea to sign Robinho in the final minutes of the transfer window in September, paying Madrid a British record transfer fee of 32.5 million pounds (then $51million; £40 million).

While he has scored 12 goals for the club, City is still in the bottom half of the standings and only four points above the relegation zone. The team was knocked out of the FA Cup by League Championship club Nottingham Forest.

Robinho has not been afraid to criticize his teammates in public or advise manager Mark Hughes about who he should be signing.