Robinho
Mark Hughes who? Is the sentiment at the moment for Manchester City who are off to a great start under new coach Roberto Mancini. Despite this positive start the question which will be asked during this transfer window is what to do with Robinho?
While it’s been mentioned here, one of the issues with Robinho is the fact he isn’t a natural striker nor a natural midfielder. He is at his best when he is allowed to be in front of the midfield yet just behind the striker. That type of player is rare in English football where the standard has always been 4-4-2 football with two strikers leading the line up front and recently 4-5-1 to pack up the midfield. The only player off the top of my head to succeed as a similar type of player to Robinho was Gianfranco Zola back in his Chelsea days.
Roberto Mancini to his credit can handle unique players, case in point the way he helped established the moody yet gifted Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of the best strikers in the world. Can Mancini have the same effect on Robinho? Who knows at this point, Robinho success will depends just as much as his team mates adapting to his style of play as Robinho will need to adapt to English football.
What if it simply doesn’t work out? What is Manchester City’s next move? What Manchester City could do and I realize this won’t be happening anytime soon is give Juventus a call. Manchester City has been linked with Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, as they should be since Chiellini is twice the player Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott are. Now if you are Juventus are you tempted to offer Chiellini and cash for Robinho? If so would Manchester City then be tempted even with Ivan Cordoba coming in? Juventus needs to put a jolt back into their season and signing Robinho to go along with former Santos team mate Diego would be a perfect move. Plus Italian football is suitable to Robinho style of play. Players like Francisco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano are all similar to Robinho as neither at their best can be considered an out and out striker but each of them have stared playing in Serie A.