MANCHESTER City boss Mark Hughes made a flying visit to Spain on Saturday night to plot his next big-money buy. (Mirror)

Hughes jetted in to watch Osasuna's dramatic 1-1 draw with Barcelona even though City played less than 24 hours later against Birmingham yesterday.

Big-spending Hughes met with Barca president Joan Laporta and sporting director Tiki Beguiristain at the game with the Spanish giants desperate to sign City's Brazilian forward Robinho in January.

City are also watching with interest developments on Barcelona's former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry who was left on the bench on Saturday night.

But Hughes is believed to have his sights on Osasuna's 20-year-old right back Cesar Azpilicueta, the �10m-rated Spanish under-21 international.

A host of clubs are checking on Azpilicueta with City, Arsenal and Manchester United among the English clubs to be watching him.

Barcelona sporting director Beguiristain said: "We didn't speak about Robinho. It wasn't the time for those sort of questions."