What to do with Robinho? Back to Santos FC?

Published by adam | Filed under Football (aka soccer), Miscellaneous

Robinho has been under-performing for some time now. For such a star, he has become perhaps the most expensive flop in the world.





Let’s start discussing this waste of pure talent by discussing the circumstances. Robinho came to Manchester City for the money. Easy as that. Northern England is no São Paulo. That is for sure. Food, women, and weather are vastly different and have to take a toll on the young striker/ winger. Robinho is married I know, and none of these are excuses. Furthermore, the physical play in the Premiership is different from all leagues in the world.


Robinho cost the Blues a record €42.5 million (£32.5m). If the player is contributing effort and hard work in hard times, like that of Tévez, so be it. Manchester City is now a talented squad and a force in the Premiership. If Robinho was world class, he would rise to the occasion. The best are the best because they deal with these types of problems (off the pitch) and still perform come game time. Robinho is simply not performing. World Cup 2010 is looming and with Brazil’s chances at the title, one would think Robinho would like to be a part of it.


We all knew he was going to be a bit of a problem way back before he ran away from Manchester City’s training camp (Jan 2009) to attend a “personal problem” back in Brazil.


In Manchester City’s loss to Everton, the Brazilian was subbed and out of the action, a terribly embarrassing move. Being a substituted substitute is probably not sitting well with the ever talented of a waste Robinho. Since, he has asked his former and first club Santos São Paulo to strike a deal with City. The trouble is that Santos FC, like most other clubs in the world, does not have the money to pay off the club and player. So a loan deal (maybe to Santos) may be the most likely outcome.


Robinho was the trigger to pull in other world class players at City and has had a big role in scoring for the Blues. However, Robinho finds himself digging his grave with attitude and nothing to back or show for. So what to do? You can’t sell him, because no one wants to invest in an under-performing, I’ll say it again, flop. Does City coach Mancini treat him like a baby (which is not happening) or tear him down before you build him back up?


Anyways, in City’s last FA Cup match against Scunthorpe United, Robinho scored a late consolation goal in what could be his last game and goal with the Blues.





After his goal, Robinho did the airplane dance into a group of cheering fans. That wasn’t so bad.