Agent reveals depth of Robinho misery

11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2008

Manchester City new boy Robinho told Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon he would "rather be a travelling salesman" than remain at the Bernabeu, the Brazilian's agent has revealed.

The 24-year-old joined the Eastlands club in a shock deadline-day move having looked set for a transfer to Chelsea after being unsettled at Madrid ever since he was linked with a swap move with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo at the beginning of the summer.

His agent Wagner Ribeiro told Brazilian radio station Jovem Pan: "He (Calderon) said that there was no way Robinho would leave the club. Robinho said, 'I do not want to stay. I would rather be a travelling salesman, sell cakes in the fair, than remain at the club'. He told that to Calderon."

Ribeiro added: "From that point, after he spoke to the president and the press, everyone turned against him.

"He continued to insist that he didn't want to stay and we thought about going for article 17 [and buying out the rest of his contract]."

Ribeiro added: "He didn't feel valued at Real Madrid anymore, he felt looked down upon. Why should Real Madrid only try hard to renew his contract after Cristiano Ronaldo said he was not going to leave United?

"Robinho's pride was hurt and for that reason no amount of money would have made him stay. He said that even if they paid him double he would not renew his contract."

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