Robinho is happy Manchester City are finally thinking big and has labelled the club in a similar position to the Brazil national team and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

City spent £100million on transfers this summer, delighting Robinho, who arrived for over £30million last season.

"Manchester City are thinking big and if I'm honest there is no difference between City and Real Madrid or the Brazilian national team," he said.

"Everybody at those three teams now believes they are winners - and half the battle is won in the mind. We are now thinking big and when you think big, greatness follows.

"There have been some fantastic players signed for City this summer," he added.

"But what is important for me is that there has been a big change in the club's thinking.

"We no longer have the mentality of a small side and that will do a lot for the players at the club.

"When you act big you think big. We have proved we can take players from Arsenal and Manchester United and there are not many clubs in the world that can do that.

"When I transferred from Madrid last summer there was a different mentality from that of Madrid because City were not thinking like a big club. This team now has real balance to it and I believe we are ready to compete, not in a few seasons but now."