Stephen Ireland expects Robinho stay

Reports linking Robinho with a possible January departure from Manchester City are mere mischief-making according to Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland, who claims the Brazilian is more committed than ever to the club.

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Robinho trained with Brazil ahead of their recent friendly with England.

There is continued speculation that Robinho will be a target for Barcelona when the transfer window opens again and on Thursday morning it was reported in the Guardian that the forward has instructed his father to arrange talks between the two clubs as he seeks to leave Eastlands.

Barcelona's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, will watch City's friendly fixture against the United Arab Emirates national side in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening but the Spanish champions insist their delegation are only in the region for the Club World Cup draw.

Despite mounting speculation regarding the future of Robinho, Ireland expects to see his team-mate remain a City player and has praised the 25-year-old for showing a renewed commitment to Mark Hughes' side.

"I've no indication where this speculation is coming from," Ireland the the Mirror. "Maybe because he's a big name player. No way does he seem to want to go somewhere else, definitely not.

"We were warming up last night before training and we were talking about all the speculation. I told him I was really looking forward to him coming back into the team because last season he set up most of my goals. 'I can't wait to get back into the team, either', he said, which didn't sound like someone who wants to get away.

"I think he is very happy here. I don't see why he would want to go back to Spain anyway. And I don't see why the club would just let him go. He is the type of player that when he dwells on the ball and takes more touches, all players are moving towards him and opening gaps. He's only had one season here so why would he move now? There are so many indications it's not going to happen."

Rumour has accompanied Robinho ever since his British record transfer from Real Madrid in August 2008 but with his Brazilian allies - Elano, Jo and Glauber Berti - exiled from the club, Ireland has noticed a positive change in his team-mate's mentality.

"I'm not being harsh on Elano and players like that, who were good people and good friends to me when they were here, but them leaving has been a real blessing for Robinho because he has really come out of his shell," Ireland said.

"They all used to stay in this little clan and you didn't see much of Robinho, but now he's different. He were actually having a conversation last night about the club. He really thinks deeply about the club. He seems really happy and contented. Even his family seems settled and he seems to be really at home.

"I've seen it more this season. Since he came back in the summer he's been a different person. He's really been a character in the dressing room and around the training ground."