Robinho turns up in helicopter

2008-09-04 07:30

Rio De Janeiro - Robinho turned up for training with Brazil in a helicopter on Wednesday following his transfer deadline-beating move to Manchester City.

Brazil, away to Chile in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday, began training on Tuesday but Robinho was given permission to join up a day late after sealing a move to the English Premier League club just before the close of the transfer window.

"I didn't want to arrive by helicopter because people will say that I'm getting carried away with success, but there was no other way," he told reporters at Brazil's mountain retreat in Teresopolis, some 100km from Rio de Janeiro.

"Otherwise, I would have been late for training."

The former Real Madrid player had looked set for a move to Chelsea before City, backed by new investors the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, moved in to sign the Brazilian international on a four-year deal.

"I wanted to go to Chelsea because they were the only ones who had made an offer," he said. "But I'm going to a big club who are going to fight for titles.

"Manchester City are Chelsea four years ago."

- Reuters