Chelsea error sunk Robinho
2008-09-04 17:36
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Chelsea's mistake to put Robinho's jersey on sale before he was signed was largely responsible for Real Madrid stopping the deal from going through, the Brazil striker said.
Robinho, who ended up moving to Manchester City for a British-record fee of 32.5 million pounds said Chelsea's offering of shirts bearing his name angered the Spanish club and made the deal all but impossible.
"Of course, my goal was to go to Chelsea," Robinho said on Wednesday after arriving in Brazil for World Cup qualifiers. "But the mistake by Chelsea to put my name on the jersey without me having signed anything dented Real Madrid's pride."
Chelsea called the sale of the jerseys a "regrettable accident by an external supplier which was rectified as soon as it was brought to our attention and not a single shirt was sold."
Robinho said the incident only intensified the fighting between the rival clubs and added another obstacle to the negotiations.
The Brazilian forward said City eventually came up with a better offer than Chelsea in the final minutes of the European transfer window and he decided to take it.
"I'm happy with the move, I'm going to a big club too," Robinho said. "It hasn't won many titles recently, but I'm part of a project that is just starting and I expect to win many titles there."
- AP