Chelsea begin Robinho negotiations, claims agent
Chelsea have begun negotiations with Robinho, the Real Madrid forward, according to the the player's agent.
Chelsea have begun negotiations with Robinho, the Real Madrid forward, according to the the player's agent.
Vagner Ribeiro, Robinho's representative, claims to have met Frank Arnesen, Chelsea's sporting director, to discuss a deal that could take the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, who officially began his role as Chelsea manager today, has already completed the signing of Deco and seems keen to make Robinho his second signing at the club.
The Brazilian cost Real £16.5 million when he moved from Santos three years ago. He is unhappy with his £30,000-a-week wages – tax free – at the Bernabeu Stadium but could cost Chelsea up to £36m.
"It's true that Chelsea are interested in signing Robinho," Ribeiro said. "They have been after him for a while and there has been much more contact since Scolari became the new Chelsea coach.
"I met with Arnesen in London and he confirmed to me that Chelsea wanted my player for next season."
Ribeiro says his player has become disillusioned at Real Madrid after claims that the Spanish champions were keen to use him in part-exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo. "Neither Robinho nor I like the fact that Real can use him as part exchange in their bid to sign Ronaldo," Ribeiro said. " We don't like this attitude and we want Madrid to start valuing Robinho because at the moment they're not.
"Robinho is as good a player as Cristiano Ronaldo or better. The difference is that Cristiano Ronaldo reached the Champions League final and Robinho didn't. But if Robinho had won such a title he would be at the same level as Cristiano."
Robinho scored 11 goals in 32 games last season, and although Ribeiro says the 24-year-old is not keen to leave the Bernabeu, he says his client will leave if Madrid continue to undervalue him. "Robinho's priority is to continue at Real Madrid," he said. "But he cannot stay in a place in which they don't recognise his talent and at the moment Real Madrid are not doing that and I'm not talking about money."