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EastStandBlue

Life President
Joined
May 29, 2005
Messages
15,519
When Manchester City pipped Chelsea to the signing of Robinho 18 months ago, it was dubbed as the transfer that would make the whole world take notice. It has, we’ve now noticed just how petulant a footballer can possibly be.

The Brazilian forward come winger come child has had what can only be labelled as a disastrous spell at City, making 53 appearances and scoring just 16 goals in all competitions. If this is what £32.5m buys you these days, then count me out.

Real Madrid signed Robinho on the back of some explosive displays for Santos that earned him the prestige of being Brazil’s next big star, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka, he flocked to Europe for the big bucks and the fancy football. It speaks volumes that, after three years at Real, they couldn’t get him out the door quick enough.

Manchester City were more than happy to take him off their hands to begin with. He was the ideal signing to perpetuate the idea that the Citizens were a giant in the making and that the Champions League was just a season away. He fit perfectly into the new demographic: expensive, flamboyant and commercially appealable… Never mind the talent a footballer possesses, if he shifts shirts, he’s halfway there.

Unfortunately for City, halfway there is about as much as they have ever received from Robinho, purely for the fact that on their travels, Robinho never actually turns up. He is nothing more than a rather expensive advert for what City could and probably will become under their Dubai based owners: A collection of overpriced, overpaid athletes on an extortionate and disproportionate wage that will boost the brand in the Saudi states, a million miles away from the terraced housing that used to surround Maine Road.

As it happens, it was simply a precursor for what Manchester City and their board have done since then. City have since put together a defence costing the best part of £50m that can't head a ball and their midfield reinforcements have been largely overshadowed by Bellamy and Ireland, both of whom have the commercial appeal of Susan Boyle only without the singing.

It is, however, worth noting that the Premier League is a notoriously difficult league to settle in to and that, to date, we’ve yet to see a “world class” Brazilian forward succeed on these shores. Robinho’s efforts, and I use the word effort in the loosest possible form, have also been hampered by a string of injuries that have kept him from making a meaningful run of games.

This, however, should not detract from a player who has caused problems for himself every step of the way. He took it on himself to return to Brazil for his birthday while the rest of his team trained in Spain and he was hardly dismissive of Barcelona’s apparent interest. The personal problems he may have had settling in would have been quickly forgiven with 100% effort, but as such, Robinho sauntering around the City of Manchester turf has been a sight all too familiar.

By returning to Brazil, Robinho has thrown himself on the proverbial scrap heap. Ronaldo and Adriano have both returned in recent years to feature in a hugely distorted mix of local and divisional football. It’s the equivalent of Liverpool facing Chelsea one week, and Tranmere the next, only the pair of them have hardly flourished.

It’s indicative of football that a player of Robinho’s petulance can be worth £32.5m and £160,000 a week wages, when the likes of Wayne Rooney struggle on half that.
 
he looked a bit cold playing at scunthorpe. west ham should sign him for their miracle player on £100k.
 
I've only ever seen him play once in the flesh, for Real Madrid against Barcelona a few years ago and he is the best player I've ever seen in the flash.

He was fantastic. He had pace, skill, tricks, flicks, the works. He had an end product to his game as well.

I'm disappointed it hasn't worked out for him at City, and its a shame for the fans they never saw the Robinho that I witnessed.
 
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