Brazilian forward Robinho joined Manchester City back in September of 2008 for a British transfer record of €42 million. But what many people don’t know is the fact that the former Real Madrid man was suited by a string of Premier League clubs before he moved to the Blue Half of Manchester City. And one of the above-mentioned clubs were Chelsea.
Chelsea went agonisingly close to signing the player and the deal went so far that the Blues even started selling shirts with Robinho’s name emblazoned on the back in their online club store. But the move eventually did not materialise and Robinho went to City where he ended up spending two seasons before moving to Milan in 2010.
Now the forward has revealed why his move to Chelsea collapsed. In 2008, Manchester City were just on the rise and were not considered a potential threat at the European stage whereas Chelsea were one of the big boys in the Champions League. And this was the main reason why Ronhinbo’s then team Real Madrid blocked a move to Chelsea. According to Robinho, Real Madrid did not want to sell him to a direct rival in the Champions League.
While talking to the Daily Mail, Robhino said, “With all the respect in the world to the players I played with, it would be much, much easier nowadays. I remember that last day of the window. Tick-tock… my agent called me and said, ‘You have this chance to go to City. There are other Brazilians there, Elano and Jo.’ So off I went.
“Two months earlier, I had spoken to Chelsea boss Phil Scolari. But the Madrid board blocked it as they didn’t want me to go to a team in the Champions League that could be a direct rival.”
Even though the Brazilian’s stint at City was not a success but he will definitely be remembered as the first big name in world football who joined the club after their club inflow almost a decade ago.
