Football Talk - Robinho would like to play at Barcelona - 16/10/09
The speculation regarding the future of Manchester City forward Robinho looks set to continue after he admitted he would like to play for for Barcelona. Robinho has been linked with a move to Camp Nou for several months, and his latest comments will do little to dampen the conjecture about his future.
The Brazilian, who played for Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid before joining City in a £32.5million British record transfer deal, told El Mundo Deportivo:
"Of course I would like to play for Barca. Who would not? We could have so much fun. It would be a pleasure to play alongside [Lionel] Messi, my compatriot Dani Alves, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, with them all. They're a great team. I've played against them and know their quality. But right now I can only do it on the PlayStation.
"It is a pleasure to watch Barca play. They look like the best Brazilian team with the way that they use the ball. Pep Guardiola's team is truly spectacular. It is an honour that a coach like him [Guardiola] speaks well of Robinho and values me as much as I have read he does. It fills my heart with pride. It is a question of sitting down and talking when there is a serious and concrete proposal and, as I have said before, I have not personally received that.
"Now would not be the right time to say things that could be badly interpreted here or there. I have a contract with City and, being the professional that I am, I am dedicated to them."
The latest rumours suggest that the 25-year-old could head back to La Liga in January on loan for the remainder of the season, with a permanent move to be completed in the summer. Dani Alves, meanwhile, has declared he would love to have Robinho as part of the Barcelona squad.
"Robinho is a talented player and a great person," he said. "He is a player who would give us many different and wonderful things. If it's possible for him to come, I would welcome it."
