Manchester City's Robinho insists his best is yet to come

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...et-to-come.html

The Brazilian concedes he should have contributed more since his £32.5 million record-breaking transfer from Real Madrid last summer having only scored once this year.

But he believes the best is yet to come and asks that supporters and critics alike judge him at the end of the season and consider the difficulties he has encountered over the course of the past eight months.

"The Robinho I hoped for has still not been seen in England," he said. "But like a good professional, I will keep fighting every day. "I am not content with how things have gone, but I ask people to judge me at the end of the campaign and take into consideration all that has happened to me since I joined.

"I was the last one to arrive and that always creates problems of adaptation to the new country and the new system of playing. That is not an excuse, I am not playing as I should and there is no denying it."

Certain events this season - such as disappearing from City's winter training camp in Tenerife - have led to suggestions that the 25-year-old has a tense relationship with manager Mark Hughes.

Regardless of this and his failure to deliver consistently good performances, Robinho insists that speculation implying he will leave this summer is unfounded.

"People say perhaps I will be sold, but I have a long contract and no director has said anything to me," he said. "I want to stay and arrive at the moment when I am the star of the team that wins titles."

Pleased to have his first choice striker back in scoring form, Hughes defended Robinho's season after City's 4-2 victory over West Brom last weekend

"We are delighted for him that he is scoring again," he said. "He's had a great season.

"Robby has had criticism on occasions but when he has an effect on games, he is a joy to watch."