Robinho race continues, but Fenerbache ‘not interested’
The race to sign Róbson de Souza (‘Robinho’) continues to progress, but reports linking the Manchester City striker with Fenerbache were today dismissed by the Turkish club.
A club statement issued to BBC Radio 5 Live said that: "We are not interested in Robinho. It's all just speculation."
It was reported that the former Turkish champions had made a bid of around £16m for the Brazil international — meeting City’s asking price for the player — with The Telegraph saying that Robinho was set to hold talks with officials from Fenerbahce today. However, those rumours have been dismissed by the Turkish outfit.
Favourites falter
Their Istanbul rivals Besiktas had been the favourites to sign Robinho after they agreed a £16m fee for the 26-year-old last week. However, they failed to find a sponsor to help fund the deal, allowing other clubs to make a move.
Meanwhile, French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais and ambitious German Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 have been linked with the player throughout the summer.
City have not commented on who the clubs bidding to recruit Robinho are, but believe they will have no problem in offloading him before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.
Big signing
City signed Robinho on September 1, 2008, from Real Madrid for a fee of £32.5m. He was the first big signing after the club was taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group and was stolen from under the noses of Chelsea. In his first season with the club, he netted 15 goals in 45 games across all competitions. However, he struggled in his second season and was loaned back to his first club Santos in his homeland.
Robinho has also played 80 times and scored scored 25 goals for the Brazil national team. He has won two FIFA Confederations Cup titles with his country.
Tags: