Robinho’s mental state led to City sale, ex-team says

MADRID, Spain – Robinho’s depressed mental state played a part in the decision to sell him to Manchester City, according to Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon. “The boy was in a terrible way," Calderon told radio station Cadena SER late Monday. “Robinho’s problem was worse than we believed. I spoke to him several times. When he spoke of his situation, he physically cried and asked to leave Spain. He was desperate. “It is not Madrid’s aim to sell players. We must defend the club’s interests. The reasons in this case are both humane and sporting." Man City beat Chelsea to Robinho’s signing by agreeing to pay Madrid a British-record £32.5-million transfer fee (€40 million; US$58 million) before the end of the European transfer window on Monday. “He wasn’t bothered about going to Manchester City," Calderon said. “His departure from Madrid wasn’t just due to sporting reasons, there is something else, which I can’t understand. You can’t keep anyone against their will at the club." Robinho thanked Calderon, Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic and marketing director Jose Angel Sanchez for their “understanding," and they “defended Real Madrid’s interests in the proper way" he said in a statement to Spanish news agency Efe on Tuesday. “What has happened is, something which forms part of football, I felt undervalued in the Cristiano Ronaldo case. We accept the criticism and understand Real Madrid’s supporters. I also want to thank everyone who supported me and understood all this from the very start," he added. The reference to Cristiano Ronaldo concerns Robinho’s stated belief that Madrid planned to use his sale as revenue for its failed pursuit of the Manchester United winger. Robinho had repeatedly spoken of his desire to join Chelsea, but City, boosted by a windfall from an imminent takeover by a United Arab Emirates business group, made a huge offer for the 24-year-old Brazil forward. Agreeing to a four-year contract, Robinho will reportedly earn €6 million [US$8.7 million] a year—about three times his salary with the Spanish champion. “This [Monday] afternoon, Chelsea hadn’t said anything. Manchester made its bid at seven o’clock by fax. It was €34 million [US$49.3 million]. And we reached €40 million [US$58 million], plus €2 million [US$2.9 million] for objectives," Calderon said. Robinho’s departure represented a defeat for Madrid coach Bernd Schuster and a victory for Mijatovic, the El Pais newspaper said on Tuesday. Despite leaving Robinho out of the squad for Madrid’s opening Spanish league defeat at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, Schuster had always wanted the forward to stay. By contrast, Mijatovic had instigated the sale, the daily said. Criticizing the club for a lack of foresight, El Pais said the Spanish champion was now short on top players, having failed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Valencia’s David Villa and Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla. “Robinho decided to go to a lesser club instead of staying at Madrid. A bad sign," it said. Madrid has spent €23 million (US$33.3 million) on two new players—Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg and Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay from Racing Santander, who has been loaned back to Santander this season. That was Madrid’s lowest offseason expenditure since 1995. – AP