Following the signing of Deco and Scolari’s arrival as the transfer window opens, rumours of players arriving seem to be gathering pace. One story in particular which doesn’t seem to have gone away over the summer is the potential signing of Robinho and whereas some weeks ago this could’ve been put down to being a press attempt to fill column inches, it’s starting to look like there could be some truth to it. Or is there?

A few days ago, the Spanish press seemed to be suggesting Abramovich had made an offer in the region of £27million for the Real Madrid winger in preparation for Scolari’s arrival, although it was Deco who turned out to be our first signing. However, according to Robinho’s representative, Deco might not be the only midfielder to join us next season. Vagner Ribeiro claims to have recently sat down with Frank Arnesen to have a chat about a possible transfer for the South American star. Ribeiro informed Spanish newspaper AS “there has been much more contact since Scolari became the new Chelsea coach. I met with Arnesen in London and he confirmed to me that Chelsea wanted my player for next season.”

Unfortunately Ribeiro then starts going on about Cristiano Ronaldo and here’s where the story takes on a different perspective. With the suggestion that neither he nor his client are happy about Real Madrid’s pursuit of the Manchester United star, it’s beginning to look as if we’re being used for a bit of contract leverage. With the possibility of a Ronaldo arrival at Madrid signalling either the sale or a part exchange deal for Robinho, Ribeiro starts coming out with some strange statements. “Robinho is as good a player as Cristiano Ronaldo or better”, he says “the difference is that Cristiano Ronaldo reached the Champions League final and Robinho didn’t. But if Robinho had won such a title he would be at the same level as Cristiano.”

Now, whilst I’m not going to suggest that Robinho’s 11 goals in 32 games wasn’t a decent contribution, for anybody to even try to compare that with Ronaldo’s 31 goals in 34 Premier League games; 8 in 11 Champions League games, not even mentioning his 3 in 3 FA Cup games, I can only assume they assess a player’s standard of football with an entirely different set of criteria on whatever planet they happen to come from.

But anyway, where were we again? Oh yeah, that’s right Chelsea were meant to be signing him weren’t they? Except after letting it slip that he’d met Arnesen, he also lets it slip that Robinho doesn’t actually want to leave Real, although he goes on to say “But he cannot stay in a place in which they don’t recognise his talent and at the moment Real Madrid are not doing that and I’m not talking about money. I’m referring to the fact that they are undervaluing him in comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo. Neither Robinho nor I like the fact that Real Madrid can use him as part exchange in their bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo,” he continues “We don’t like this attitude and we want Madrid to start valuing Robinho because at the moment they’re not.”

So one way or the other then, despite his hints to the Spanish press about Chelsea, it would appear that the true message behind the interview was for the benefit of Robinho’s current bosses as opposed to any potential new boss.

I wonder whether he’ll get the pay rise he’s after?

Filed under: Rants