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Robinho’s tenure in England keeps getting better, for those quasi-humorously writing about it.
West Yorkshire Police arrested the 25-year-old Brazilian, over allegations of “serious sexual assault” Jan. 14 at the Space nightclub in Leeds.
Robinho cooperated, and was released “pending further inquiries.” He returned to training and was in the lineup for today’s match against Newcastle.
The arrest comes a day after Robinho returned from an unauthorized jaunt home to Brazil, for which he was fined the maximum £320,000. His trip was not a coincidental flit of fancy. His birthday was on Sunday. He also had expressed frustration about City’s failure to land Kaka.
Rare for a Brazilian footballer, Robinho is known to like the ladies. At an October 2007 party for the Brazilian National Team party, he reportedly asked a subordinate to bring him 40 condoms. Presumably, (or hopefully) the sheaths were not entirely for his personal use.
Robinho’s involvement in the assault case is unclear. What is clear is that, despite performing well on the pitch, 12 goals in 19 appearances, he’s not the happiest camper at Eastlands, and the club hasn’t been particularly enamored with his antics.
Unfortunately for both, he will be at City for a while. No club, in this economic climate, will approach his £32.5m transfer fee. No club will pay nearly £160,000 per week salary. Such is the folly of paying top dollar.
Filed under: Football, Soccer , Brazil, Manchester City, Robinho, Sexual Assault
Santa Cruz, the Paraguay international who has been sidelined since March with a knee injury, has sealed confirm his transfer from Ewood Park to Eastlands for an undisclosed sum, although sources close to the deal suggest an initial down payment of £16 million, rising to £18m based on goals and appearances.
Santa Cruz becomes City's second major signing of the summer following the £12m purchase of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa earlier this month and the club are now hopeful of closing a £25.5m deal for Carlos Tevez following the Argentine's decision not to accept the offer of a five-year contract at Manchester United.
Barring a late move by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is keen to land a major signing for new manager Carlo Ancelotti after failing to attract a marquee acquisition so far this summer, City are confident that they will be in pole position to sign Tevez in the coming days.
The successful conclusion of the 12-month pursuit of Santa Cruz, does not affect plans to add Tevez and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o to the Eastlands strike-force.
Mark Hughes, the City manager, identified the need to acquire a proven target-man shortly after his arrival at City last summer and Santa Cruz, a player he signed for Blackburn, has always been his favoured signing to tick that particular box.
With only Jan signing Craig Bellamy likely to have a long-term future among City's current forward line, Hughes also pinpointed the need for two top-class forwards to play off the target man and both Tevez and Eto'o remain top of his wanted list.
Barcelona remain determined to retain Eto'o, however. The Cameroon striker is out of contract at the Nou Camp at the end of next season and the European champions will sell if he fails to agree a new deal, but Barcelona President Joan Laporta admits that they are still striving to keep the player.
Laporta said: "Eto'o ends his contract next season and that means we have to sit down and talk. The club would like him to be here for a lot more years, but only in line with our salary structure."
