Robinho set to star in moneybags match-up
Sunday, 14 September 2008
LONDON, Sept 13 (AFP): Robinho is set to make his Premier League debut Saturday against Chelsea - the club he was set to join until English football's previously unchallenged big-spenders were trumped by Manchester City.
In an astonishing example of how much money is now involved in the top-flight of English football, the Brazil star was signed from under Chelsea's noses on transfer deadline day when City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Up until then, few thought any club could have more cash at their disposal than Chelsea, backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
But City's new owners made clear their intention to break into the supposedly closed-shop of England's top four clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - by signing Robinho for a staggering British record 32.5 million pounds.
Brazilians have a chequered history in English football.
Juninho was a firm favourite at Middlesbrough but few Newcastle fans remember Mirandinha's time at their club with immense affection.
City meanwhile have repeatedly disappointed their passionate supporters, a situation made worse by their proximity to serial trophy-winners Manchester United.
It seemed they would flatter to deceive yet again when former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the man who was supposed to bankroll City back to the big-time, had to end his ownership of the club.
However, his decision to sell City to the oil-rich Abu Dhabi group has opened up new possibilities for the Eastlands club and their faithful fans.
Manager Mark Hughes, a former United and Chelsea striker, said Robinho was looking forward to playing his part in a clash which will go some way to proving if an embarrassment of riches simply means yet more embarrassment for City.
In an astonishing example of how much money is now involved in the top-flight of English football, the Brazil star was signed from under Chelsea's noses on transfer deadline day when City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Up until then, few thought any club could have more cash at their disposal than Chelsea, backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
But City's new owners made clear their intention to break into the supposedly closed-shop of England's top four clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - by signing Robinho for a staggering British record 32.5 million pounds.
Brazilians have a chequered history in English football.
Juninho was a firm favourite at Middlesbrough but few Newcastle fans remember Mirandinha's time at their club with immense affection.
City meanwhile have repeatedly disappointed their passionate supporters, a situation made worse by their proximity to serial trophy-winners Manchester United.
It seemed they would flatter to deceive yet again when former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the man who was supposed to bankroll City back to the big-time, had to end his ownership of the club.
However, his decision to sell City to the oil-rich Abu Dhabi group has opened up new possibilities for the Eastlands club and their faithful fans.
Manager Mark Hughes, a former United and Chelsea striker, said Robinho was looking forward to playing his part in a clash which will go some way to proving if an embarrassment of riches simply means yet more embarrassment for City.