Robinho is reportedly upset at being tipped as
a makeweight in a deal for Ronaldo.
According to As, new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari
met with club owner Roman Abramovich and Frank Arnesen, sporting
director, with a view to planning the shape of the squad for next
season. Near the top of the agenda was
Robinho.
Apparently Scolari is particularly eager to land his former
protégé, who was on the fringes of the Brazilian national team
during the coach's tenure as Seleçao boss. Abramovich, eager to
accommodate his new recruit, has thus apparently earmarked €35m
that will either be used to bid for Robinho, or has already been
utilised for that purpose.
Apparently Scolari sees Robinho as a missing piece of the puzzle as
the Blues look to go one better than their losing finalists status
in the Champions League. While Scolari's attempts to prevent Frank
Lampard from leaving may be fruitless, Robinho would nonetheless be
an asset.
Madrid's Point Of View
Still, all is not clear-cut. Madrid, led by sporting director Pedja
Mijatovic for the purpose of these negotiations, are apparently
holding out for €45m as they seek to raise money for their ongoing
crusade to land Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.
That said, the blancos are said to be not exactly unwilling to let
Robinho go. The player has recently displayed is anger over
fruitless contractual negotiations at the Bernabéu, and despite his
world-class form earlier in the season he dropped out of the side
towards the end of the Liga campaign.
At present Robinho is back in his hometown of Santos with his wife
and son for a holiday. He remains in touch with the European
footballing world via his agent, Wagner Ribeiro. The two apparently
see continuing in Madrid as 'Plan A', but if an economically sound
offer comes in from elsewhere then he will not refuse. All should
be clear before he is due to return to first-team training on July
14...
