Instead of celebrating what would have been a world record transfer, City's executive chairman Garry Cook was left to lament the role of Kaka's club AC Milan in the failed bid.
Cook was part of a group of City officials who spent seven hours in the Italian city on Monday trying to secure the world record transfer of the Brazilian midfielder but said the Italian club lost their nerve.
"I think there was some political pressure and definitely media space that they engaged in. To be honest, I think they bottled it," Cook told the club's website.
"We never met the player, we only met the representatives, we never actually made him an offer on personal terms.
"We've been to Milan four times and the delegation yesterday involved three lawyers, a board member who had flown from Abu Dhabi, myself and one other senior executive.
"What they wanted to talk about was; `how much are you going to pay him? We chose not to get into that and we didn't make an offer to the player."
PACKING BAGS
Just as Milan were announcing the deal was off, Robinho was packing his bags to travel to Brazil.
The 32 million-pound ($44.95 million) record signing was reported to be frustrated by City's lack of progress on the pitch and in the transfer market, with full-back Wayne Bridge and striker Craig Bellamy the only January arrivals.
"I do know Robinho is not at the training centre in Tenerife...it is a breach of club discipline and I am waiting for a full debrief," Cook told the BBC.
Robinho has scored 12 goals since arriving from Real Madrid on the final day of last year's transfer window in a stunning indication of the club's new spending power under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group.
He said, however, that he had made the club aware that he had to return to Brazil because of a family matter.
"I will return to the club and hope to sort this out as soon as possible," he said.
"I feel it is important to underline that I did not return to Brazil because of the Kaka deal. He is one of my good friends and it would have been great to see him at Manchester City - but it had nothing to do with his decision to stay in Milan."
A statement on Robinho's personal website citing "sources close to the player" said he would be back in time to play for City in their next game, against Newcastle United on January 28.
Despite the setbacks, City will continue to look to invest their huge funds.
"We've got clear plans, we are not going to stop," Cook said, also confirming that a fee had been agreed with Hamburg SV for Dutch international midfielder Nigel De Jong.
"This club deserves great players and the fans deserve great players and we will continue on that goal; we are building for the future."
