Pompey's James reserving opinion on Man City's £34m man Robinho

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So what, says keeper David James, who will check out Robinho with his own eyes before committing himself to an opinion on the most expensive footballer to set foot in the Barclays Premier League.

So David, do you know anything about Robinho? ‘I know nothing about him.’

Pompey keeper David James says he will reserve his opinion on Man City's £34million man Robinho until after the two clubs meet this weekend

Is he the sort of footballer you like to watch? ‘Don’t know anything about him.’

Don’t you watch much foreign football? ‘No.’

Did you see his goal last week? ‘The deflection? Yeah, I saw that.’

As a former Manchester City player, James hopes the spectacular investment from Abu Dhabi’s royal family will ensure a happy future for the club’s long-suffering supporters but he is reluctant to go overboard.

One thing the Portsmouth keeper will admit ahead of his return to City is that the club never looked likely to lavish so much cash on one player when he was there.

‘Strewth, anyone paying £34m was never going to happen anywhere until this guy turned up,’ said James.

‘I think it’s good for football that you’ve got a guy prepared to put an enormous amount of his money in and doesn’t have to borrow it.

‘Ultimately you can only play 11players and no team has ever won every game.

'Therefore there’s an opportunity to spoil the party.’