Brazil defied Manchester City’s wishes yesterday by insisting that Robinho remains on international duty and could provoke a huge club versus country row if they pick him against England tomorrow.

As City faced the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi last night — a weakened team losing 1-0 to a ninth-minute penalty conceded by Stuart Taylor, the goalkeeper — in their first match in front of Sheikh Mansour, the club’s owner, the occasion was overshadowed by yet another wrangle involving the forward.

City did not even want Robinho to travel to Qatar to join the Brazil squad, given that he has not played for his club since August because of an ankle injury.

Relations with their £34.2 million record signing have also been strained by Robinho’s apparent agitation for a move to Barcelona.

City insist that Robinho remains a couple of weeks from full fitness, but the Brazil federation demanded that he turn up for international duty.

Although Robinho’s part in training yesterday was restricted mostly to running around the pitch, Brazil will assess him again to see if he has any chance of playing against England or in Tuesday’s friendly against Oman in Muscat.

City will be furious if Robinho is even considered for action. Mark Hughes, the manager, said: “We certainly don’t expect him to play any part on Saturday or Tuesday.

“Our doctor went back with him on Wednesday night because we wanted them [Brazil] to know in no uncertain terms that we felt it was very much a risk if Robi is involved in the games.

“He has had one training session in eight to ten weeks, so to think he would be ready for a full international against England, I would suggest that would be foolhardy.”

Hughes believed that Robinho would fly to Qatar, be assessed by the Brazil doctors and return yesterday to Abu Dhabi, where City stay until tomorrow. However, Dunga, the coach, has put his foot down as he prepares for the World Cup next summer. Robinho is one of his key players and, even if he is not fit to face England, he will remain with his Brazil team-mates until the middle of next week.

“Robinho will train today, doing the same exercises as the other players but on the side,” Rodrigo Paiva, the Brazil team spokesman, said. “Whether he’ll play this game or next week, we are taking day by day.

“We know City want him with them, but we have only three games before the World Cup, so we need Robinho here. This is a chance for the coach to talk to the players, to create the ambience, to discuss preparations for next summer.

“We need him with us. We don’t need permission from City to play him but we will keep talking to them.”