UK Football

Real annoyed with Robinho's efforts to force Chelsea move

11:38 BST, Sat 23 Aug 2008
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Real Madrid's Robinho celebrates after scoring against Olympiakos during their Champions League Group C soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid October 24, 2007. REUTERS/Victor Fraile (Spain)

MADRID, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Robinho is showing a lack of respect for Real Madrid by trying to secure a move to Chelsea just before the start of the new league season, Real president Ramon Calderon said on Saturday.

The Brazil forward said in an interview on Friday he was determined to join Chelsea and asked Real directors to negotiate with the Premier League club, who according to British media tabled a bid of around 19.7 million pounds on Aug. 7.

"Transfers have to be organised at the end of the season, not five days before the start of the season. This shows a lack of respect towards the club, its history and the fans," Calderon told radio station Cadena Ser.

"Also, the offer we have received shows how little Chelsea value the player."

Robinho has a contract with Real until 2010, with a buy-out clause of 150 million euros, and Calderon said the Spanish champions wanted to keep the player at the Bernabeu.

"Real are not going to sell Robinho. It is another matter if he wants to leave; well then he should go. But it is not the right way to do it by telling the media," he said.

"He should put it in writing to us to resolve his contract and the matter will be closed. We don't keep anyone against their will at this club. Slavery was abolished a long time ago.

"If tomorrow he says he doesn't want to go, that he was only floating the idea, then we can sit and talk (about his future in Spain)." Robinho is reported to be unhappy because Real were prepared to sell him in order to raise funds in their unsuccessful attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and for the club's refusal to release him to play at the Olympic Games.

The Brazilian, who joined Real from Santos in Aug. 2005 after a tug-of-war transfer saga, has been a target of Chelsea and their new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for much of the close-season.

Both Calderon and club coach Bernd Schuster have said that Robinho is an important part of their future plans.

Real host Valencia in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, losing 3-2 from the first leg, and start their Primera Liga campaign away to Deportivo Coruna the following weekend.

 

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