Sport | Football
Robinho's mental state led to City sale
Robinho's depressed mental state played a part in the decision to sell him to Manchester City, according to Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:15 September 2, 2008
Madrid: 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."
"He wasn't bothered about going to Manchester City. 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," Calderon said.
The El Pais newspaper said Tuesday that Robinho's departure represented a defeat for Madrid coach Bernd Schuster and a victory for the club's sports director, Predrag Mijatovic.
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