Robinho has accused Roberto Mancini of stifling him at Manchester City. The Brazilian star, who’s currently on loan to Santos, felt the Italian manager didn’t gave him the freedom to express himself.

Robinho joined City from Real Madrid for a British record £32.5million in the summer of 2008 and made an instant impact, finishing as the club’s leading scorer in his first season. He moved to his boyhood club Santos, when he failed to reach the level of last season.

“He (Mancini) has a different way of thinking,” Robinho told the Daily Mail. “In Brazil, the coach respects the player’s characteristics.

“But in Europe, they are used to playing with two lines of four players and they don’t want to know what you can do.

“There, if you are a forward, the coach sends you on to the pitch just to run. You have to run and that’s it.”

Robinho celebrated his return to Santos with an incredible backheel goal which sealed the win (2-1) over Sao Paulo on Sunday. He now hopes to continue that form up and into this summer’s World Cup.

“I am preparing mentally and physically to be the best player at the World Cup,” he added. “I’m at a good age. I have to get flying.”