Former Real Madrid and Manchester City forward has revealed that he wanted a move to Chelsea in 2008.
Robinho was one of the hot topics during the summer deadline of 2008. But on the deadline day, he was sold by Real Madrid to Manchester City. The Brazilian believes that he would have opted Chelsea if he had a choice.
The 33-year-old revealed that Real Madrid had fallen out with Chelsea on jersey sales issue. Talking on Four Four Two, Robinho says this issue was one of the reasons why he couldn’t move to Chelsea.
“My main goal was to move to Chelsea. Big Phil (Scolari) had said I could make the difference for him as his squad, according to him, was not creative enough,” Robinho told Four Four Two.
“But Real Madrid had fallen out with Chelsea. They didn’t like them selling shirts with my name on before the deal had been done. I’m pretty sure that this error was one of the main reasons why the transfer failed, as it was a matter of pride for Real Madrid.”
Robinho also claims that Real Madrid were reluctant to sell him to a club playing in Champions League.
“They were also reluctant to let me move to a club that was playing in the Champions League the same season – Chelsea were, but City weren’t.”
“I moved to a great club and they welcomed me in the best way. I had one-and-a-half years of joy in Manchester, despite the city being a lot colder than Madrid.”
Later in 2008 summer deadline day, he moved to Manchester City for £32.5M on a four-year contract. The same day Man City was bought out by the Arab investment company Abu Dhabi United Group.
But Robinho explains how his life went much difficult at Man City. “When I arrived at City, I hadn’t had any vacation time and he promised me he’d give me one week to get some rest.”
He added: “The truth is that Hughes didn’t honour his word to me.”
“I believed what he told me so when I travelled to Tenerife. I went to him and said, ‘Mister, can I have my vacation now?’”
“He said, ‘OK.’ I packed my things, let the club know that I was leaving and enjoyed a week back home because he had allowed me to go – he had given me his word.”
In 2010 January, he was loaned out to Brazilian club Santos and later in the summer of 2010, he was sold to AC Milan.
READ:
Lighting up the Bridge: Cricket at Chelsea’s home turf
Origins of the offside rule
I would never have left Manchester United, says David Beckham
“For me, this fight doesn’t exist”-Ronaldo on Messi
How Lucas Moura Made Sir Alex Ferguson Angry
