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Chelsea make Robinho bid

08/08/2008

Chelsea have confirmed they have made an offer to Real Madrid to bring playmaker Robinho to Stamford Bridge.

After months of speculation, the Blues have now officially begun transfer negotiations to sign the Brazilian superstar with their bid thought to be in the region of £20 million.

"Further to media reports, Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have made an offer to Real Madrid today (Thursday, August 7) for the transfer of Robinho," the club announced on their website www.chelseafc.com.

Robinho has become unsettled at Madrid after they tried to use him as bait in their efforts to sign Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo. The 24-year-old's agent Wagner Ribeiro said "Madrid have failed to value him".

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon admitted that the club have been after Robinho for a while, and the Brazilian said he is keen to move to Stamford Bridge and work with countryman Luis Felipe Scolari.

"It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world," said Robinho.

"I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea.

"In 2003, when I was unknown in Europe, he called me to play in a charity match. It was brief but it was enough for me to see his style and character."

If Chelsea are to get Robinho then they will probably have to pay a lot more than the reported £20 million for a player who played a key role in Madrid's Spanish league title win last season.