Mark Hughes opens up on deadline day signing of Robinho to Man City

Mark Hughes has spoken about the deadline day signing that signalled the beginning of Manchester City's new era 12 years ago.

The Welshman was the man in charge when City were taken over 12 years ago and Robinho became the club's first marquee signing on deadline day of the 2008 summer window.

“It was all happening so fast if I'm honest,” Hughes told Sky Sports News when asked about the deal on Friday night.

“I was on a golf course when the takeover was going through. I was involved on the phone. By all accounts, Manchester City had 10 or 15 offers for some of the best players in the world because the new owners wanted to have a statement signing on that day.

“We had all these bids on the table and these clubs were thinking, 'who are Manchester City?'

“If we're honest, Manchester City were unknown to a lot of clubs in Europe at that time.

“Low and behold, we finally got Robinho over the line and at the time I think he was the highest paid for a player.

“In the early 2000s, it was a lot of money. Everybody was in for him."

Hughes says he was delighted to get the chance to work with the Brazilian forward but admitted that he didn't expect Robinho to reciprocate the feeling to quite the same degree.

“Clearly I knew him,” he added. “I'm not sure he knew too much about me as this new manager, but he was a good player and he had an impact, more often at home than away from home, if I'm honest.

“At the time he was real coup for Manchester City. At the time, as manager and the club, we found it difficult to get top players over the line.”