A new day brings a fresh twist in the ongoing and eccentric tales of Robinho, and his apparent willingness to discard Real Madrid for Chelsea. The Brazil wingers prospective transfer appeared to be given fresh impetus yesterday after the player suggested he was prepared to join the London club. Robinho also irritated the Spanish champions by claiming that he could only become the "best player in the world in the Premier League".
The Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon issued a statement saying his club would not try to keep an unhappy player, but also intimated that Robinho, 24, may be forced to buy out the two years left on his contract. "No player will be kept against their will. This does not mean that Madrid will not defend the interests of the club," said Calderon, referring to a £120 million (Dh817m) buyout clause in his contract.
"It's not necessarily that he will have to pay the £120m. He would end his contract, but the courts will decide what he has to pay." Robino is keen to join Luiz Felipe Scolaris team, who travel to Wigan today (ShowSports 2, 4.30pm). He said: "I've got nothing against Real, but I hope to resolve this situation as soon as possible." The players agent Wagner Ribeiro has hinted that Real may sell with a fee of £32-40m likely to be enough to secure the player. "I simply want to leave," commented Robinho.
@Email:dkane@thenational.ae
