Elano has been influential in attempts to get Robinho back to Manchester City after his storm out this week.

The Sun says Robinho quit City's Tenerife training camp on Monday to jet back home to Brazil, saying he needed to attend to family matters.

City boss Mark Hughes was furious as he had already told him he had to spend the week with his team-mates.

So Robinho's pal and fellow countryman Elano stepped forward to mediate.

He could not stop Robinho - who is 25 on Sunday - from flying back to Brazil as he was already airborne by the time Sparky realised he had quit the Spanish training base.

Elano rang the hitman at his Sao Paolo home and not only did he tell him to call Hughes and apologise, but also return to Manchester this weekend.

Robinho rang Sparky on Tuesday night and said sorry - in his broken English - and promised to return to the squad.