De Souza Robinho will never play for Manchester City again, yet the brilliantly talented but hopelessly lightweight striker has turned down two offers from elsewhere…
Robinho has got 6 days left to find a new club otherwise he is heading for the Eastlands stands and the post 25 Man Squad list doldrums.
Turkish giants Besiktas and Fenerbahce had both pursued the striker with firm bids for his erratic services yet the record British transfer signing refuses to entertain their advances:
‘With all due respect to Turkish football, I’m not going to play there right now. Fenerbahce have sent me an official proposal, but I already decided that I will not take it up.’
City would of course be pleased to bring the sorry saga of Robinho’s stay with the club to a close and get rid of a player who now trains alone at Carrington having told the management team he wants out.
Robinho, however, makes a bold statement of what he expects to take place between now and 1st September:
‘There are other conversations going on and a week gives me a lot of time yet. The only thing I can say for certain is that I will continue in Europe, either in Italy or Spain.’
Robinho is used to getting everything he wants. City fans have seen that at close quarters up to the point where Roberto Mancini saw enough and double subbed him at Everton last season, so poor was the Brazilian’s performance. But the pressure is on Robinho now. Not City. City don’t need to sell.
Mancio:
“Robinho has two or three options. When he chooses we will then know where he wants to go. I have spoken with Robinho and he can stay if he works well and trains well. I have a good relationship with him. But I think he wants to play in Italy or Spain.”
If the big clubs Robinho is obviously holding out for don’t come in, let alone fail to strike a deal with The Blues who won’t let him go on the cheap, then this gifted but essentially ultra-spoilt footballer will find himself boxed into a wilderness of his own making.