By Myles Palmer
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APOLOGIES – game was Sunday May 29 th
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ROBINHO says his agent has been talking to Arsenal.
And one story reckons he would cost £14 million.
Robinho is a hot young striker who plays for Santos, the Brazilian champions.
Sky Digital channel 425 shows Brazilian league games every Sunday night.
This week it is Palmeiras v Santos , coverage starting at 7.15.
It’s a local derby between in-form league leaders (Santos) and their shaky rivals, who have ex-Middlesbrough hero Juninho in midfield.
Deep down, I’ve always felt that Arsenal would not win the Champions League till they signed a Brazilian striker.
But the summer of 2006 always seemed the right moment to sign one, not now.
ROBINHO has said he would like to play with Thierry Henry and I’m sure his style would dovetail with that of Pires, who can hold the ball that extra moment till his striker makes a run into the box.
Robinho is not a brute like Adriano, not a tough grafter like Elber, not an Olympic powerhouse over 50 yards like Ronaldo.
In style he is more of a skipping poacher, like Saviola, the little Argentinian who didn’t quite make it at Barcelona, but did OK at Monaco last season.
Robinho seems to be more of a hummingbird, a little guy who hovers and darts.
He is exceptionally nimble and has a lot of skills. A touch player.
I REMEMBER writing about Robinho recently.
On April 1st I wrote this :
ROBINHO of Santos is 21 and headed for Real Madrid.
He is electric, bouncy, zippy and keen.
Not as much of a power player as Samuel Eto’o.But more of a ball-artist.
Robinho made a difference when he came on against Peru, producing a smart reverse pass to play in Ronaldinho for a penalty that wasn’t given, and making a diagonal decoy run for the goal, sprinting right to left to allow Ronaldo to pass right for Kaka to score.
I love that kind of thing: it’s so Brazilian.
Robinho will fit in at Madrid.
Owen doesn’t.
June 1st 2005.