The club have given no official reason for the Brazilian's departure.

They are refusing to comment on speculation Robinho stormed out, or that he has returned to South America.

However, it is another dose of bad news following Kaka's rejection of a lucrative transfer from AC Milan late last night.

There have even been some reports that members of the City squad were among those who talked Kaka out of the move, which would have netted him an estimated £500,000 a week.

Those claims are unlikely ever to be verified but City officials are now struggling to control the adverse publicity and uncertainty over Robinho's whereabouts.

The Blues smashed the British transfer record when they splashed out £32.5million on the 24-year-old in August last year.

Widely assumed to be joining Chelsea, Robinho plumped for City when Real Madrid refused to do business with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

On a personal level, Robinho has been a success, netting 12 goals for his new club - all but one of which have come in the Premier League - and becoming an instant hit with the City faithful.

However, City's failure to establish themselves in the top half of the table under manager Mark Hughes is bound to be the source of disappointment.

The striker has been giving Hughes some advice over his team building, claiming last week that even though he would like to see Kaka at Eastlands, defensive reinforcements were the priority.