In August 2008, Chelsea came close to signing Robinho from Real Madrid but were astonishingly gazumped at the last minute by newly-moneyed Premier League rivals Manchester City. The Blues had been chasing the Brazilian all summer and hoped they would finally snare him with a £25.5 million bid. However, on September 1 - transfer deadline day - City came in with a £33 million offer and blew their London rivals clean out the water. Chelsea decided not to compete with the bid and Robinho was sold to the Citizens later that day, just before the transfer window slammed shut. Chelsea of course were used to getting what they wanted and were the serial big-spenders of the time, so when City out-gunned them in the transfer market, it signalled a changing of the guard in English football. The Blues might have breathed a sigh of relief however, as it turned out they'd dodged a bullet. Robinho - signed as a statement of intent by City's new Abu Dhabi owners - flopped in England and was sold after just two seasons.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
