Chelsea missed out on Robinho transfer as Real Madrid were furious they were selling shirts with his name on before deal
FORMER Brazil sensation Robinho made his record-breaking £32.5million move to Manchester City... after a switch to Chelsea was BANNED.
Real Madrid snubbed the Blues in 2008 because they started selling replica shirts with his name on BEFORE he had signed.
The stunning move for Robinho shocked the world of football and was the launchpad for the the Abu Dhabi empire's acquisition of Premier League City in 2008.
But the little Brazilian maestro had set his heart on a move to London.
Everything was agreed on the deal but before it was completed the Blues printed off Chelsea shirts with Robinho's name emblazoned on them in preparation for selling tens of thousands in their store.
This angered the Spanish giants.
Robinho, 38, once revealed in an interview with Spanish media outlet Marca: "My goal was to go to Chelsea. But Real Madrid ended badly with them.
"They didn't like Chelsea selling shirts with my name on them before the deal was concluded.
"I don't regret leaving Madrid. But I'm sorry I made a mistake with them when I left.
"Madrid was the club that opened my doors and offered me the opportunity to conquer Europe.
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"I lacked the maturity and the ability to stop, think with a mind and consider the consequences before making decisions.
"Only age and experience can give you this."
Robinho had an unhappy spell in Manchester and eventually left to join AC Milan having returned on loan to Santos in Brazil.
He added: "If I regret something that I have not given to City, it is a title: it's the only thing that makes me a little sad.
"Less sad off the pitch ... I liked Manchester, the club, the restaurants ... but let's not forget the discos. I liked having fun.
"But the British went out more than the Brazilians! Joe Hart was always out, Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips the same."
The Brazil star was sentenced to nine years in jail after being convicted of gang rape.
The rape of the woman took place on her 23rd birthday at a Milan nightclub in 2013 while he was playing for AC Milan.
Robinho and five others were found guilty in 2017.
The ex-footballer appealed against it but the Supreme Court in Rome upheld the previous ruling earlier this year.
The ruling cannot be challenged and is definitive.
Italy has issued an international arrest warrant but Brazil does not extradite its citizens, meanin ge may not serve his sentence unless he leaves Brazil.