Real Madrid have confirmed they have agreed to sell
Robinho to Manchester City, for a fee thought to be
£32.5million. The Brazilian forward, a long-term target for
Chelsea, must now agree personal terms with City if he is to
complete a shock move.
A statement on Real's official website, www.realmadrid.com,
tonight read: 'Real Madrid and Manchester City have reached an
agreement for the transfer of Robinho.
'Real Madrid have finally decided tonight to transfer Robson da
Souza - Robinho - to Manchester City.'
The news comes on the day Abu Dhabi United Group for Development
and Investment began the process to take over at City, entering a
period of due diligence. Robinho's proposed move to Eastlands will
have stunned Chelsea, who remained confident of signing the
Brazilian early this evening.
Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari viewed his compatriot as key to
fulfilling his brief of producing attacking football at Stamford
Bridge. But Real appeared unwilling to do business with Chelsea and
criticised the manner of their pursuit yesterday.
The 24-year-old, capped 42 times, took the unusual step of calling
a press conference yesterday morning when he reiterated his desire
to join the Blues. Real blocked the move but Chelsea remained
confident they would capture the former Santos marksman - until
City's astonishing intervention tonight.
Bankrolled by Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover, City capped a
remarkable transfer deadline day by offering £32.4million - with
Real accepting. City had earlier grabbed the headlines by
attempting to hi-jack Dimitar Berbatov's transfer to Manchester
United but when the Bulgarian opted for Old Trafford they moved
instead for Robinho.
Real Madrid's decision to accept City's offer for Robinho was
made for both
'sporting and human' reasons, the Spanish club's president Ramon
Calderon has
said. 'We have sold Robinho for reasons of a human nature and for
sporting reasons. The fact that he has accepted an offer from
Manchester City says that he is not going for sporting reasons,'
Calderon told Spanish television station Veo.
'It's an important sum of money. It's not the objective
of Real Madrid to sell players, neither do we need the money, but
for reasons of human and sporting nature, it has been decided this
is for the best.
'It's a decision agreed by all the coaching staff, who understand
it is best for the player and for the club. '(Coach Bernd) Schuster
thought until yesterday that he could recover the player, but that
has not been the case. Every time I have spoken with him he was
very sad, crying and asking to leave Spain. Real Madrid are more
important than any one player. 'He's a great kid, but badly
advised.'
