Source: Daily_Mail
Robinho: City 'galacticos' can be as big as Madrid and Barcelona
Robinho has pledged to stay at Manchester City for the next fiveyears and help them become as big as his former club Real Madrid.
As a youngster, Robinho shared a dressing room at the Bernabeu withthe original 'galacticos', Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, David Beckhamand Ronaldo.
Now the 25-year-old Brazilian superstar, the Premier League's costliest player at £32.5million, is convinced the biggest names in world football will end up flocking to Eastlands, despite the scepticism of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and others.
The signings of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry, with the possibility of John Terry to follow, has put a spring in the Brazilian's step as he joined up with City's tour in South Africa after being given time off to recover from the Confederations Cup.
Although Madrid have spent even more heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and French striker Karim Benzema, Robinho said: 'I can help Manchester City become as big as Real Madrid. It might sound ambitious but that is the intention of the club.
'We are going to try to be Premier League champions this year. If not, the top four certainly.
'In five years, Manchester City will be very strong, a big name in European football like Real Madrid and Barcelona. I will be in Manchester for five years to help it happen. Even if it rains, it is not a problem for me.
'This club has an aim to become massive. It is a big project, I have been here at the start and I want to grow with the team. I want to be part of it.
'We have good players already and more will follow. Kaka is one of my best friends and I thought he might join us too. But these type of players will come. Once we are in the Champions League, we will be attractive to any player. The three I would buy are Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard and Deco.'
Robinho had just turned 21 when he was plucked from Brazilian league football to play alongside some of the biggest names in world football. It is an experience he hopes to pass on to up-and-coming City players like Stephen Ireland, Micah Richards and Michael Johnson.
'I was a young player at Real but working with players like Zidane and Beckham every day taught me such a lot, how you win and lose as a team, and how you must respect your team-mates,' he said. 'Now I am more experienced, I will help my team-mates at City win trophies.'
Robinho had a mixed first season in England. He scored an impressive 15 goals after a dramatic deadline day move to City from Real Madrid but also suffered some lows, including quitting a club training camp and facing a police investigation following an alleged nightclub incident.
In South Africa he cut a relaxed and positive figure, buoyed by his summer wedding to childhood sweetheart Vivien and looking forward to the new season.
Although still conducting interviews via a translator, his answers are now punctuated by bursts of English. 'Shaun Wright-Phillips is teaching me,' he says, flashing his trademark dazzling smile. 'I also learn by watching television.'
Educational programmes? 'No, football,' he smiles ruefully. But he still promises to be fluent by the end of the season.
Kaka was among the football glitterati who attended his wedding, an event which left Robinho to quip: 'I am a serious man now.' Then he half-spoils the new image by revealing: 'I will still go to nightclubs. That is normal. My wife let's me go anywhere I want to go.
'I go out and she stays at home. I only worry about what my wife thinks, nobody else. She knows the truth of what happens, so there is no problem.'
Regarding his football career, Robinho has the high standards you would expect of someone who started his career at Pele's club Santos. He cut a forlorn figure at times last season when his City team-mates were not on the same wavelength, particularly away from home where they won just twice in the league.
He was also left in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was crowned World Player of the Year for his performances across the city with United.
Now that Ronaldo has gone, and Robinho has Tevez and Adebayor to play with, he thinks his fortunes will change.
'Ronaldo will be a big miss for United,' he said. 'But I still think they will be the biggest rivals for the title. But I am more interested in how we do than United. I think with the good players around me, I will score a lot more goals than last season. My target is 30 goals.'
Ultimately, Robinho hopes every player will want to join City, including the man he considers the best in the world, Lionel Messi. But he has also pinpointed a more realistic transfer target from Chelsea - and it is not England captain Terry.
'If I could sign any three players, I would buy Messi, Steve Gerrard and Deco,' he says. Noticing the raised eyebrows from his inquisitor, Robinho adds: 'Deco is a very skilful player, he thinks very fast on the pitch. He is 31 years old - not too old.
He is still at his best for me, very creative and intelligent.
'The players who have arrived this summer are also very good
players and, with them, we can win the league.
'I found the Premier League very fast and strong last year. I did OK but I will be much better this season. I am used to working hard and I feel that with this team everything will be all right.'
