- Dec 14, 2004
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Meanwhile, Goal.com has learned that Milan are ready to sell Robinho this summer if a good offer comes in.
Head coach Massimiliano Allegri does not see the former Manchester City forward as a key player, and an offer in the region of €9 million would be enough to lure the Brazil international away from the San Siro side.
Robinho has been linked with clubs such as Santos and Malaga in the past few months.
Linkage.
There's a theory, discussed at great length in Spurs Chat, that AVB's desired 4-3-3 formation lends itself to a right-footed left-forward, with Gareth Bale pushing back into a Jordi Alba style overlapping full-back. At the time, I name-dropped Neymar as the perfect player to compliment Bale, though interest from Barcelona & Real Madrid, along with his reported €60m price tag make him nothing more than a pipe dream.
Now, before I go any further, answer me this... how many 28 year old La Liga & Seria A winners with 90 caps for Brazil become available for £7m?
I know the likes of SS57 (*waves*) and many more of you will shoot the idea down in seconds, but hear me out. Last year, Robinho managed 11 goals & 11 assists. The year before, 26 goals and 5 assists. In the last 2 seasons combined, Benny (the player forced out my the tactical switch) has 2 goals & 6 assists. Very simply, Robinho adds tangible benefits to the team by way of goals & assists.
Bale on the outside, on form, is fantastic; but at times his form last year was erratic, often due to being double/tripled up on. Robinho playing ahead of him will create space for Bale in a way that Assou-Ekotto cannot. Lets face it, Bale isn't great in tight spaces. Bale with room to drive into is one of the most terrifying things I can think of. Robinho's presence will benefit Bale.
Finally, Gomes will likely be offski, leaving Sandro as the only Brazilian at the club. United have always been fantastic at making young players feel settled in a new environment, and their Portuguese & Brazilian contingents make possible to bring on the likes of Rafael, Fabio, and quite possibly Lucas Moura. I think it'd be beneficial to have another Brazilian on board, and Robinho clearly ticks that box.
In short, he ain't perfect. His work rate is questionable at best, he's rarely spent longer than 3 years at one club, and his private life doesn't always come across as professional at it should. However, he's a fantastic talent, and one that would set us back the same amount that Southampton have just paid for Jay Rodriguez.