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Confusion reigns over Robinho deal

29/08/2008

Chelsea's pursuit of Robinho took another unexpected twist on Friday when Real Madrid said they expected the forward to remain in Spain.

Real president Ramon Calderon told Spanish media the Brazilian was contracted until 2012 and said he would be making a mistake in moving to west London.

"He is staying in Madrid and there is no possibility of going back on that," Calderon was quoted by sports daily AS as saying.

Separate quotes appearing in La Marca further clouded where the 24-year-old's future would lie.

"I think that his representatives are advising him very badly and I have a lot of faith in the lad," Calderon reportedly said.

"I believe he has a lot of quality and could be successful here. But I say it again that I have to defend the interests of this club in the best manner possible."

Yesterday Chelsea appeared supremely confident of making Robinho – valued at about £28 million – their third major signing of the summer after Deco and Jose Bosingwa.

Pictures published in Spanish newspapers showed Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon leaving a Madrid restaurant with Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro.

Visitors to the club's online store were also invited to buy shirts with the Brazilian's name printed on the back.

On Friday Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he was in the dark over compatriot Robinho.

"I don't know about Robinho because it is not my job to enter into talks about players. I said something to Peter a month ago and they tried to bring Robinho here but my job is on the pitch," Scolari said.

"I don't know anything because I have not spoken to Peter for the last two days."