Robinho will start for City against Scunthorpe in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but after months of speculation expects to finally leave the club after the tie.
Santos, his former club in Brazil, would be his preferred destination.
"The coach [Roberto Mancini] was very sincere with me and said that I would play every other match," he told Radio Bandeirantes, a Brazilian radio station.
"I told him that would not be interesting to me, it's a World Cup year. The financial situation is important, but being happy also counts."