Robinho's birthday was at the heart of his furious bust-up with Manchester City boss Mark Hughes yesterday, it has been revealed.

The Sun says Robinho's future was on a knife-edge last night after a furious flare-up with Hughes.

The £32.5million striker was raging after City went back on a promise to let him go home to Brazil to celebrate his 25th birthday with his family.

Instead he was forced to join the squad on a training break in Tenerife.

A City insider said: "He felt bitterly let down. As far as he was concerned the manager had said he could go then changed his mind for no reason."