Manchester City's season was in danger of falling apart today with striker Robinho walking out and flying to Brazil and the club accusing AC Milan of “bottling” the deal for Kaka.

City executive chairman Garry Cook confirmed that Robinho would face disciplinary action after leaving the club's training base in Tenerife to fly back home to Brazil.

Robinho's action leaves his future at City in huge doubt and Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, an admirer of the £32.5million playmaker, who turned down a move to Stamford Bridge to join City last summer, will watch developments with interest.

Robinho's unauthorised flight home, which is thought to have followed a row over an agreement that he could celebrate his 25th birthday with his family in Brazil, will undoubtedly be linked by City fans to Kaka's wish to remain in Italy.

Cook said: “I do know Robinho is not at the training centre in Tenerife.

“If he has left the training ground, then it is a breach of club discipline. I am waiting for a full debrief.”

The pair are Brazil team-mates and the arrival of Kaka would have removed any doubts striker Robinho had about City's potential.

But Cook pointed an accusing finger at Milan today and claimed that City were not even given the opportunity to speak to the 26 year old.

“If you want my personal opinion, they bottled it,” Cook added.

“He clearly was for sale but we never got to meet with the player, the behaviour of AC Milan got in the way.”

Kaka could have become the world's most expensive signing at £108m and earned up to £500,000 a week at Eastlands but decided to stay in Italy after fans pleaded with him not to leave.

“At the moment I don't want to change anything,” Kaka told Milan's TV station.

“All the messages I received told me to follow my heart and that's what I chose to do in the end. It certainly isn't about money.”

Cook said he believed City had been out-manoeuvred but would rebound from the setback.

He added: “We met with the football club and they made it quite clear that Kaka was for sale and we made it quite clear that we wanted to bring him to Manchester City.

“As we got through to the next stage there were questions that were asked they couldn't answer.

“The political pressure they came under and the public space that they were trying to live this negotiation through maybe changed the conditions.
“And again, like I say, I think they bottled it.

We never met the player so it was very difficult for him to turn down Manchester City when we didn't even get to make him an offer.”

Cook did meet with Kaka's father, who also acts as his advisor, and the City chief insisted the player was keen on a move to Eastlands.

“His dad said he was very interested in the project,” said Cook.

“We talked a lot about a humanitarian approach and also environmental issues and the statements his son would like to make around the world.

“He is truly respected around the world, not only for his capabilities as a footballer.

“Unfortunately when we talked to Milan yesterday those issues were taking a back seat and the financial demands were coming to the fore.

“It's a shame he won't be able to join us on our journey.”

Milan fans protested over Kaka's proposed move to England Cook also defended the way City and their Abu Dhabi billionaire owners had pursued Kaka and justified the huge transfer fee that had shocked the sport.

He also accused Milan of breaking a
confidentiality agreement between the two clubs.

He added: “We've chosen not to discuss any of the details of the negotiation; it's unfair for people to make claims and statements when they don't understand the intricacies of the deal.”

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, who is the Italian Prime Minister, did not waste the chance to increase the pain for City's delegation after they returned from Milan empty-handed.

He said: “We offered the player the chance to consider the offer and make himself a fortune but he has higher values.”