It's an out-and-out stunner, since all signs pointed toward the tiny Brasilian landing with Chelsea. You'd think Real Madrid didn't want to sell the player to a club it could face down the road in the Champions League this season. It's odd that the powers that be would spurn Chelsea, considering they spent the entire summer trying to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United. Then again, I've given up a long time ago trying to figure out the thought processes of the rich men that run soccer clubs.
By the same token, how to explain the logic of Robinho himself? Very few would trade the glitz and glory of the Bernabeau for the second-tier status of the Eastlands.
As for Robinho the player? Well, you have to love the speed he and Shaun Wright-Phillips inject into City. How Robinho holds up to the rigors of the English game could be a question. At Real Madrid he was always surrounded by studs at almost every position and wasn't relied upon as the No. 1 goal threat. At City he'll have to pair quickly with countrymen Jô and Elano. One asset Robinho owns is versitility to play in almost every attacking position, which gives manager Mark Hughes options.
My semi-educated guess is most likely to happen is moments of brilliance offset by stretches of invisibility. At best he helps City to an extended run in the UEFA Cup.
Bottom line, it's not too often Chelsea and its Russian billions are spurned, so that's cause for minor celebration. Let's hope all this money and publicity doesn't cause another kidnapping scenario for Robinho's mother, which did indeed happen a few years ago.
