England Premier League Media

Manchester City striker Robinho has moved to AC Milan after signing a four-year deal at the Serie A club.

The Brazil international had a medical with the San Siro side on Tuesday but a fee has yet to be announced.

A statement on the AC Milan official website read: “AC Milan announces it has acquired Robinho on a permanent deal from Manchester City.”

The 26-year-old joined Manchester City for a British record fee of 32.5m from Real Madrid in the summer of 2008.

The former Santos player arrived at Eastlands in dramatic fashion on the final day of the transfer window, on the first day of owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan’s reign at the club.

However, the playmaker struggled to make an impact at the Eastlands outfit and was loaned to Brazilian side Santos in January 2010.

Robinho, who rejected a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce earlier this summer, will join fellow countrymen Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato at the Serie A club.

Meanwhile, Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has joined newly-promoted Spanish side Levante on a season-long loan deal.

Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has joined newly-promoted Spanish side Levante on a season-long loan deal.

The 21-year-old Ecuador international joined City in 2008 from Swiss side FC Basel and has made 27 appearances, scoring four goals.

Last season Caicedo went on loan to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon as well as Spanish side Malaga.

Earlier on Tuesday City striker Robinho moved to AC Milan after signing a four-year deal at the Serie A club.

Levante were beaten 4-1 by Sevilla in their opening match of the new Spanish league season.

Leeds United have signed Manchester City midfielder Adam Clayton and Honduras international Ramon Nunez.

Clayton, 21, was originally on loan at Elland Road but a permanent deal has now been agreed.

Nunez, 24, has been on trial at the Championship side since the start of August and has impressed boss Simon Grayson enough to earn him a deal.

United have received a work permit for the striker, who played in all of Honduras’ games in the World Cup.

Clayton has already featured for Leeds this season, making two substitute appearances against Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

Nunez, who can also play in midfield, has spent most of his career in America with FC Dallas and Chivas USA, and most recently played for Honduran side, Olympia.

Darren Bent struck an injury-time penalty to give Sunderland a dramatic win over Manchester City, who were left to rue an amazing Carlos Tevez miss.

Bent hit a low spot-kick past Joe Hart four minutes into added time after he was held back by Micah Richards.

But the match will also be remembered for a terrible miss from Tevez, who spooned an open goal over from 12 yards after being set up by Yaya Toure.

City’s Emmanuel Adebayor later saw a volley well saved by Simon Mignolet.

Bent’s last-gasp strike capped a fast and furious contest played out in a swirling wind with few other chances – aside from the golden one for Tevez that is likely to haunt the Argentine for years to come.

The penalty was the first goal City have conceded this season and it also ends their 10-match unbeaten run against the Black Cats, but City boss Roberto Mancini could have few complaints after his side were outmuscled in the second half by the determined Wearsiders. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce demanded an improvement from his side after last weekend’s dismal defeat to West Brom and his players responded with an energetic start.

Bent, Ahmed Elmohamady and Fraizer Campbell all had attempts in the first 10 minutes but failed to trouble City keeper Hart.

The visitors were comparatively subdued until the game ignited in a moment that is destined for countless TV repeats in the coming weeks.

Sunderland’s defence was caught wide open as Yaya Toure showed superb pace and strength to power 50 yards through the midfield before laying the ball off to Tevez but the striker – under no pressure – incredibly side-footed his effort well over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Despite the indignity of producing an early candidate for miss of the season, maybe even decade, Tevez continued to be at the heart of City’s best football as they began to control the game.

He got a quick chance to make amends for his miss when Sunderland’s Campbell hit an awful pass to his feet 40 yards from goal, but after a jinking run the Argentine’s shot was deflected wide.

City created another gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when James Milner’s free-kick found its way to the unmarked Yaya Toure six yards out – but Mignolet managed to divert the Ivorian’s effort narrowly wide.

Sunderland looked a different team after the restart and Mancini cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as the hosts hustled and harried their disjointed opponents, with Hart called into action for the first time when the impressive Elmohamady’s cross almost caught him out at the near post.

But for all the home side’s pressure, clear-cut openings were at a premium – although substitute Danny Welbeck was guilty of blazing over after being set up by Bent.

Mancini responded to City’s fast-crumbling performance by bringing on Adebayor for Joleon Lescott, who seemed to be the subject of much of the Italian’s ire after a shaky display at left-back.

The Togolese striker, who said this week that he would leave Eastlands if he did not get regular football, was given the perfect chance to prove his point to Mancini within minutes of coming on.

Milner’s corner was headed back across goal by Richards and Adebayor flicked a volley goalwards from six yards only to be denied by an outstanding save from Mignolet, who tipped the effort over the bar.

The game looked to be heading for a stalemate when Elmohamady whipped in another dangerous cross from the right and Richards was adjudged to have held Bent back as he leapt for the header.

The striker picked himself to take the spot-kick and it crept just under the dive of Hart to give the hosts their first win of the season.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce:
“Today every one of them stuck at it and did their jobs properly. Of course, we rode our luck a little bit with the Tevez miss – I don’t think he will ever miss a chance like that again – but we are due some.”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini:
“Football is very strange. We played fantastic football in the first half but if you don’t score, sometimes you can lose these games.”

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini blamed his side’s poor finishing for their 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Yaya Toure and – most spectacularly – Carlos Tevez were all guilty of misses before Darren Bent hit a late penalty for the Black Cats.

“Football is very strange. We played fantastic football in the first half but if you don’t score, sometimes you can lose these games,” said Mancini.

“We had the Carlos chance, but we also had three or four other opportunities.”

City’s Italian manager cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during the second half of the match at the Stadium of Light, as the home side outmuscled their more illustrious opponents before Bent’s injury-time strike.

The visitors had created several openings in the first half, not least when star striker Tevez skied an open goal from 12 yards in an early candidate for miss of the season.

“I am disappointed because we wanted to win this game,” added Mancini.

“We were good in the first half but in the second half we defended too deep and they put us under a lot of pressure. Every game is difficult and you must play until the last second.”

Meanwhile, Mancini’s Sunderland counterpart Steve Bruce was delighted by the way his team bounced back from last weekend’s loss to West Brom.

“It was a great performance. I have just said to my assistant, ‘Is that the same team that played last week?’, which is the problem,” commented Bruce.

“Today every one of them stuck at it and did their jobs properly. Of course, we rode our luck a little bit with the Tevez miss – I don’t think he will ever miss a chance like that again – but we are due some.”

Bruce also revealed he wants to recruit more players before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, especially in light of a serious injury to striker Fraizer Campbell.

“It looks as if he has damaged his knee ligaments. We hope it’s not as serious as we fear, but it doesn’t look good,” stated Bruce.

“With that, it’s imperative that we try to bring a body in because we are a bit short there if he is going to be missing for the next couple of months.”

Juventus have promised they will not tolerate any racist abuse of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli when the sides meet in the Europa League.

Balotelli was subject to abuse while playing a Serie A match for Inter Milan at Juve’s Olympic Stadium last season.

He is likely to be in the squad for City’s visit to Turin in December.

“This will be the chance for the supporters to demonstrate that the standard has been raised,” said Juve chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc.

“Hopefully fans will behave the way they should be behaving and supporting the team and only this.

“Supporting your team is to support your team, and not to make remarks of a racist nature toward other players. We will be extremely demanding and intransigent about this.”

Juventus will be carefully watched by European governing body Uefa after receiving a one-match fans ban in 2009 after supporters racially abused Balotelli.

City will face Juve in the Europa League Group A along with Salzburg from Austria and Polish side Lech Poznan and the Manchester club’s football administrator Brian Marwood said they did not anticipate any targeting of Balotelli and were looking forward to the clashes with Juve.

Marwood stated: “I’m sure Mario, like all of our players, will be relishing the opportunity. He’s a young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him and we will give him every support and help that he needs.

“We will leave it to the authorities to deal with anything that happens but we are not anticipating any issue.”

Balotelli moved to City from European champions Inter Milan in August for a fee of 24m.

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stadium of Light Date: Sunday, 29 August Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, & highlights on Match of the Day 2

Sunderland duo Lee Cattermole and Michael Turner are available after completing suspensions.

On-loan defender Nedum Onuoha is ineligible to face his parent club, while John Mensah is injured, so Anton Ferdinand could be handed a start.

Manchester City will assess striker Mario Balotelli, who has missed the last two games with a knee problem.

Defenders Aleksandar Kolarov, Jerome Boateng and Wayne Bridge remain sidelined by injury.

Sunderland

Injured/unavailable: Gordon (arm), McCartney (ankle), Mensah (hamstring), Meyler (knee), Onuoha (ineligible under loan rules)

Manchester City

Doubtful: Balotelli (knee)

Injured: Boateng (knee), Bridge (toe), Kolarov (ankle)

The last time Sunderland beat Manchester City, current Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn was leading the line while the City line-up included Shaun Goater and Paul Dickov.

Aside from Shaun Wright-Phillips, who also played in the 1-0 defeat on 23 December 2000, City are now unrecognisable a decade on, with arguably the strongest squad in world football.

City’s final game under Mark Hughes was a 4-3 win against Sunderland last December. His successor, Roberto Mancini, has yet to completely convince the doubters, but last Monday’s comprehensive 3-0 win against Liverpool was perhaps a sign the Mancini masterplan is now coming together.

James Milner and Adam Johnson were outstanding on the wing, and with lone striker Carlos Tevez claiming two goals, summer signing Mario Balotelli may have a hard time finding a starting spot. No wonder Emmanuel Adebayor is worried about his chances of playing regular football at Eastlands.

In contrast, Sunderland look over-reliant on last season’s top scorer Darren Bent. It is over a year since the Black Cats won a league match without the aid of a Bent goal.

Head-to-head

Sunderland ended a run of nine successive defeats against Manchester City when they earned a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in March.

The Black Cats’ last victory against City was a 1-0 home win in December 2000. Don Hutchison scored the winner.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn spent the majority of his career with the Black Cats and Man City. He scored twice for Sunderland against his former club.

There has not been a goalless draw between these sides in league football since 1938.

Sunderland

The Black Cats last won a match without a Darren Bent goal over a year ago – Kenwyne Jones scoring both in a 2-1 win over Blackburn on 22 August 2009.

Sunderland have lost only one home league game in 2010. Their only defeat in their last 11 league games on Wearside is a 1-0 loss to Manchester United on 2 May.

Steve Bruce’s side have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League fixtures. That was in a 1-0 win at Hull on 24 April.

Manchester City

City are one of only two Premier League sides yet to concede a goal, along with Chelsea.

Roberto Mancini’s men have failed to win their last three away league games.

They won only six league games on their travels last season, compared to 12 at Eastlands.

Sunderland

Bent: 1 (1 league)

Manchester City

Tevez: 2 (2 league)

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Stephen Child

Fourth official: Nigel Miller

Sunderland (L0-1 v West Brom, a): Mignolet, Onuoha, Da Silva, Bramble, Richardson, Malbranque (Zenden 66), Henderson, Riveros (Waghorn 84), Elmohamady (Welbeck 67), Bent, Campbell. Subs Not Used: Carson, Bardsley, Angeleri, Colback.

Man City (W3-0 v Liverpool, h): Hart, Richards, Kolo Toure, Kompany, Lescott, De Jong, Yaya Toure (Zabaleta 84), Barry, Milner, Adam Johnson, Tevez (Jo 84). Subs Not Used: Given, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Silva, Vieira.

Manchester City face a tough test in the Europa League group stage after they were drawn with Juventus.

As well as the Italian giants, Roberto Mancini’s team also face Salzburg of Austria and Lech Poznan of Poland.

Liverpool had an unkind draw too, the Reds put into Group K along with Romania’s Steaua Bucharest, Italy’s Napoli and Utrecht of the Netherlands.

The draw saw the 48 clubs divided into 12 groups of four teams, with the top two from each set progressing.

Manchester City summer signing Mario Balotelli was the victim of racist abuse from Juventus supporters during his time as an Inter Milan player.

Two seasons ago Juve were ordered to play a home game behind closed doors after an incident aimed at Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent.

And during the last campaign the Serie A club banned several supporters after they chanted discriminatory remarks about Balotelli during a cup match against Napoli.

“I think a new season is a chance to show new behaviour, and to show also at a European level that the Italian supporters, or more particularly those of Juve, have understood the messages and the sanctions that were handed out,” said Juventus general manager Jean-Claude Blanc.

“Supporting your team is to support your team, and not to make remarks of a racist nature toward other players. We will be extremely demanding and intransigent about this.”

Brian Marwood, Manchester City’s head of football administration, said: “Mario, like all of our players, I’m sure, will be relishing the opportunity.

“He’s a young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him and we will give him every support and help that he needs.

“We will leave it to the authorities to deal with anything that happens but we are not anticipating any issue.”

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard admitted that the Europa League is not his club’s top priority – but is confident the Reds will progress from the group stage.

“It’s a strong group and I’m certainly looking forward to the games,” said Gerrard.

“I’m confident we can get out of the group but it will be tough. I don’t think the Europa League is the priority. Everybody knows that our league position, where we finish at the end of this year, is the priority.

“But it’s another trophy, it’s a big cup. We haven’t won a trophy for four years now so it’s important we put a good show on in all the cup competitions and try to reward the fans with a final.”

Group J also looks extremely competitive, with Sevilla, Paris Saint Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Karpaty Lviv all competing for the top two places.

The group stage begins on 16 September and when it concludes three months later the top two teams from each group will go through to the final 32 – where they will be joined by the eight third-placed finishers in the Champions League group stage

Holders Atletico Madrid defeated Fulham in last season’s final and are in Group B, along with Bayer Leverkusen, Rosenburg and Thessaloniki.

Group A

Juventus
Manchester City
Salzburg
Lech Poznan

Group B

Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Rosenburg
Thessaloniki

Group C

Sporting
Lille
Levski Sofia
Gent

Group D

Villarreal
Club Brugge
Dinamo Zagreb
PAOK

Group E

Alkmaar
Dinamo Kiev
BATE Borisov
FC Sheriff

Group F

CSKA Moscow
Palermo
Sparta Prague
Lausanne

Group G

Zenit St Petersburg
Anderlecht
AEK Athens
Hajduk Split

Group H

Stuttgart
Getafe
Odense
Young Boys

Group I

PSV Eindhoven
Sampdoria
FC Metalist Kharkiv
Debreceni

Group J

Sevilla
PSG
Borussia Dortmund
Karpaty Lviv

Group K

Liverpool
Steaua Bucharest
Napoli
Utrecht

Group L

Porto
Besiktas
CSKA Sofia

Rapid Vienna

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has warned manager Roberto Mancini he could quit Eastlands if he does not play regularly this season.

The 26-year-old Togolese has been handed a place on the substitutes bench for City’s first two league games.

Adebayor said: “If you’re in a team and you’re not playing and there is a team that comes in for me, then I will definitely be on my way out.”

However, Adebayor did start the two Europa League wins against Timisoara.

Mancini used Carlos Tevez as his central striker for the 0-0 opening day Premier League draw with Tottenham, with Adebayor coming on for the last seven minutes as a substitute.

In the Monday’s 3-0 win over Liverpool, Mancini again opted to start Tevez and used Brazilian striker Jo as a second-half replacement, leaving former Arsenal man Adebayor as an unused sub.

“The season is going to be very long and very difficult for myself,” Adebayor added on Talksport. “I’m a footballer and have to keep going and not give up. I need to keep fighting for myself and enjoying my football.

“So if I don’t have a chance to play here there will be a lot of chance to play somewhere else. If they force you out then you always have to follow your destiny.”

Adebayor joined City from Arsenal for 25m in July 2009 but he could be pushed further down the pecking order when Manchester City travel to Sunderland on Sunday if City’s new 24m signing Mario Balotelli returns from a knee injury.

Wales striker Craig Bellamy has already moved to Cardiff on loan after losing his place at Eastlands, while Brazilian Robinho and Paraguay forward Roque Santa Cruz also look set to leave.