Robinho: I Want To Leave For Chelsea

Just days after Robinho's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, seemed to rule out the prospect of a switch to London, Robinho has today stated that all that's needed is Madrid's assent for a move to go through. What's more, it's a transfer that he wants.

The player said today: "I dream of playing in the Premier League. Chelsea have a great squad, a great team, and they've made an offer that's great for both me and Real Madrid.

"I have nothing against my current team, to whom I'm very grateful, but at this point my goal is to leave here and I hope that everything will be resolved as soon as possible."

This will come as a massive shock for Real Madrid: with the competitive season already underway in the form of the Spanish Supercopa, to be faced with losing one of their top players with so little time left to source a replacement is catastrophic.

Chelesa, meanwhile, are known to be great admirers of the Brazilian winger, with both chief executive Peter Kenyon and first team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said to be eager to land the ex-Santos man.

Despite the 24-year-old's statements today, though, it could well be that no move comes to pass. Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón has already declared Robinho to be "non-transferable" and has also deemed the blancos' transfer window operations to be concluded.

Furthremore Calderón and sporting director Pedja Mijatovic may opt to take a leaf out of Manchester United's book and hold onto one of their prime talents come hell or high water. After all, when Cristiano Ronaldo first stated that he wished to depart Old Trafford in favour of Madrid the Red Devils hierarchy stood their ground, eventually winning back the loyalty of their winger.

Whether or not Real Madrid can manage the same - especially in light of an alleged €40m bid from the Blues - remains to be seen.

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com