Robinho is the most notorious example of Manchester City's transfer policy of spending inordinate sums on ready-made players. Almost immediately after the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, the Brazilian striker was signed as a statement of intent in a £33 million move from Real Madrid that was designed to personify City's new-found ambitions. However, it never worked out and the forward lasted just two seasons at Eastlands. His debut campaign in England was a positive one, with the ex-Madrid man scoring 14 goals in 31 Premier League appearances. However, an injury-stricken second term saw Robinho lose his place in the side and saw him play just 12 games in total (10 in the league), scoring but one goal - that being against lowly Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup. Robinho was loaned to native Santos for six months in 2010 but made just two appearances for the Brazilians. He returned to City and later sold to AC Milan for £15 million, with the Citizens recouping less than half of what they paid for him two seasons prior. The Manchester club got their fingers burnt in this deal and learned a valuable lesson - buying the best players in the world doesn't always work out. Which players do you think were screwed over the most by City's transfer policy of spending big? Let us know in the comment section, below.
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.
