Reports: City target Diego

Having missed out on Kaka, Manchester City have set their sights on signing Werder Bremen midfielder Diego now.

City's failure to sign Kaka was a serious blow to Robinho.

And he has made his displeasure known by storming out of the club's training camp in Tenerife - returning to Brazil to be with his family instead.

Now, according to News Of The World, manager Mark Hughes is considering signing Diego in order to placate a disappointed Robinho. That however, would be a sheer test of his man-management skills.

Like Robinho, Diego has forged his own 'bad-boy' ways at Bremen, following a series of unsavoury incidents.

Here is what the 23-year-old midfielder did:

• Strangled a Karlsruhe player during a Bundesliga match. Now currently serving a four-match ban for his actions.
• Defied the orders of Werder Bremen officials and jetted off to China with Brazil to play in the Beijing Olympics.
• Turns up late for training.
• Stopped by police for an alleged drink-driving offence.
  

His defence over actions?

Diego said: "I had a couple of glasses of wine at dinner and was stopped by the police but I did not lose my licence as some reports claimed."

Hughes believes by signing Diego will ensure that Robinho is kept happy and will remain at Eastlands. After all, the duo came through the ranks together at Brazilian club Santos.

Diego has been linked with Real Madrid, Juventus and Arsenal in the January transfer window so far.

But should Hughes move for the creative playmaker, there is without doubt that the soap drama at Eastlands is set to play on, as the combustive nature of Robinho and Diego would surely test the City's manager patience and tolerance.