Robinho moved to City for a British record £32.5m on August transfer deadline day after an acrimonious departure from Real Madrid, and he has enjoyed a fine start to life at Eastlands with 11 league goals already.

Robinho said: "When I left Santos and signed for Madrid I was convinced I was going to be the best player in the world. Now I'm at City and I think the same. I think that in Manchester I can fulfil my dream of being the best.

"I never thought that at Real Madrid I could achieve my objective of being the best player in the world.

"Neither could I be the leading goalscorer. So the best thing was to leave.

"I hope to show my best football in England. Some (Brazilian) players have had bad luck in the Premier League because they have not adapted but, in this sense, I've had luck."

best player

The current holder of the world's best player crown plays across town from Robinho.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player award, the Ballon d'Or and FIFPro's player of the year after helping the Red Devils clinch the Barclays Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup in 2008.

When asked to compare himself to the Portuguese ace, Robinho said: "I'm neither better nor worse than him. I have my own style.

"I think that Cristiano is an excellent player and he deserves to have won the Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player. But I don't like making comparisons.

"I focus on playing football and the press are the ones who have to judge who is better. But I have my style and Cristiano has his."