Spanish daily 'Marca` announces that Chelsea have offered Real Madrid €35 million for Brazilian whiz-kid striker Robinho. Madrid are saying that he`s not for sale.
'Chelsea are prepared to offer up to €35 million for Robinho` declare two radio programmes, one of which is Radio Marca, and this is the story that the paper version of 'Marca` is running with. Apparently Chelsea have made their interest in signing the Brazilian striker this summer known to Madrid.
But Madrid (of course) are stating that Robinho is not for sake and that nobody at Madrid is even thinking of offloading the Brazilian 'even if the offer is enormous`, which is how Chelsea`s offer is described. Hurriedly, Madrid have tabled a contract renewal offer to Robinho, asking him for a very quick reply in order to seal the contract renewal.
And the Madrid coach, Bernd Schuster, went on the radio to deny that Madrid had any intention of selling Robinho (or, for that matter, midfielder Diarra), 'as they are two very important players in are squad. Why should we want to sell them`? said Schuster.
And yesterday morning, when asked about a possible interest from Chelsea, Robinho himself gave the party line: "I want to stay in Madrid, if possible, for another ten years`.
Clearly going into lock-down mode, club President Ramón Calderón declared the player 'untransferable. We are not going to sell Robinho` said Calderón, during Madrid`s title celebrations on Monday.
So that would be that. But, declares 'Marca`, the summer is long, and Robinho will have some time to think whether his status of eternal substitute, is the best way for the player to develop. Should he decide to leave, he has many suitors at the highest level, such as Manchester United and Arsenal.
And Chelsea. In fact, when Robinho was still a prodigy in Brazil, Chelsea were interested in him, all the more so that Madrid`s courtship of the player was long and extraordinarily clumsy. Right now, Robinho constitutes the kind of flair play that Chelsea are supposed to be aiming for. However, there is a down side, and that is Robinho`s lifestyle off the pitch. In a well-publicised criticism, Fabio Capello said last season that there were players who turned up at the training ground smelling of booze. Whilst no names were mentioned, everyone identified Robinho.
Furthermore, Marca declares, another factor is that Robinho could be a critical factor in any negotiations between Madrid and Manchester United for a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
We really can`t see this one happening. Madrid don`t want to sell, Robinho doesn`t want to leave.
Hell, make it €40 million, I`m sure it will go through.
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