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Mancini urges Robinho to step up
08:45, Dec 22 2009
New manager Roberto Mancini wants Robinho to "write the history" of Manchester City.
The British record £32.5million striker will be one of the first players Mancini will want to settle following the upheaval of the last few days.
"Robinho is a fantastic player," said Mancini. "But for a big player like him, it is important to make the history of a club."
He added: "I played at Sampdoria for 15 years. I wrote the history. It is important. Robinho can do that here."
While Robinho is hardly likely to shed any tears at Mark Hughes' departure given his fractious relationship with the Welshman, with more talk about a potential move to Barcelona - which club president Joan Laporta has tried to play down - the 25-year-old could be forgiven for feeling a bit uneasy.
But after appearing somewhat less committed to the grand City plan that he was when he became the first big name signing of the Abu Dhabi era, Mancini is eager to use his own time at Sampdoria to show what Robinho could achieve.
Given the speed with which Mark Hughes was controversially ousted, 45-year-old Mancini will spend the preparation for a Boxing Day visit by Stoke analysing the talent at his disposal before outlining the areas that need strengthening.
However, rather than declare that City's transfer policy is going to be his domain, Mancini has already revealed it will be a team effort.
"In Italy, it is not just the manager who decides on players, it is also director of football," he said.
"I will speak with Garry (Cook, chief executive) and Brian (Kidd, assistant manager). Together we will decide who we need. It is no problem. The most important thing is for City to win, now and in the future."
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