Sport | Football

Manchester City rope in Robinho

Manchester City, boosted by a takeover by an Abu Dhabi investment group, beat Chelsea to the signing of Brazil striker Robinho.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 11:10 September 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: AP
  • Robinho had repeatedly spoken of his desire to leave the Spanish champion for Chelsea, but Manchester City, made a huge offer for the forward.

Manchester: Manchester City, boosted by a takeover by an Abu Dhabi investment group on Monday, beat Chelsea to the signing of Brazil striker Robinho by agreeing to pay Real Madrid a British-record 32.5 million-pound transfer fee (US$58.5 million) on Monday.

Robinho had repeatedly spoken of his desire to leave the Spanish champion for Chelsea, but City, made a huge offer for the 24-year-old forward.

With Madrid unwilling to sell to Chelsea because of poor relations between the clubs, City was able to reach an agreement on the final day of English football's summer transfer window.

"I am absolutely delighted to get the opportunity to work with such an incredible talent like Robinho," City manager Mark Hughes said on the club's website. "I have said that in order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this caliber, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world."

Gulf News
The UAE’s Hamdan Al Kamali and India’s Je Je fight for the ball during the first-leg of the Asian qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, at the Al Ain
Club’s Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday. Al Kamali opened the account for the hosts with a penalty in the 21st minute, followed by another spot kick converted by Mohammad Al Shhehi in the 29th minute. Ismail Al Hammadi then completed the tally in the 80th minute of the match.

Football

Feature of Kamali breakthrough

Martin Kaymer of Germany lines up a putt on the 18th green on the second day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic golf
championship at Emirates Golf Club on Friday.

Golf

Long wait over

Winning Desert Classic as close to McIlroy's heart as Wozniacki

Cricket

On the backfoot

Sport Editor's choice