''On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted Manchester, sorry! - Robinho, September 2008.
Its OK Robinho, everybody knew you didnt care which club you were joining at the time, just how many digits you could stuff into your contract, so to accidentally declare his delight at signing for Chelsea at his Manchester City unveiling was understandable. However, as the former next Pele sits at home in Brazil, very much on the periphery of his international side, he must rue that career turning point as a fresh-faced 24 year old in 2008. With Chelsea having led the race for the his signature during the final weeks of the summer, it looked like it was just the formalities that needed to be closed, with the Brazilians image even appearing on the website in a Chelsea kit. Luiz Felipe Scolari had been desperate to land his compatriot, and were it not for a sensational last-minute Abu Dhabi takeover and a quick fire change of heart, he would have gotten away with it too. Following a decent debut season at Eastlands, where he bagged 14 league goals in 31 outings, he completely flopped after that, failing to register a single goal during the first half of the 09/10 season before being flogged to Santos on loan, and then AC Milan on a permanent deal at the end of the campaign. Had he signed for Chelsea, things might have been so different for the boy who had so much potential at the Santiago Bernabeu. He would have been granted a Champions League platform and the joy of working for a man who truly believed in his talents. It might just have saved his career.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
