Robinho: I'd like to play for Barca - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Robinho: I'd like to play for Barca

Manchester City forward Robinho has heard nothing official regarding Barcelona's latest reported interest in him but would relish the chance to play for the European champions.

Robinho was closely linked with Barca this summer and, although no move was forthcoming then, there has been continued speculation that the Catalan giants will try to take the former Real Madrid man back to La Liga during the January transfer window, possibly on loan.

"Of course I would like to play for Barca, who wouldn't? We could have so much fun. It would be a pleasure to play next to (Lionel) Messi, to my compatriot (Dani) Alves, Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic... with all of them. They are a great team," Robinho was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.

The Brazil international, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, only joined City just over a year ago from Madrid for a British record transfer fee of £32.5million but the 25-year-old made no secret of his admiration for Barca or his desire to play for Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side.

He continued: "I've played against them and I know their quality. But at the moment at the moment I can only do it (play with them) on the PlayStation. It's an honour that a coach like him (Guardiola) speaks highly of Robinho, and rates me as much as I read he does."

Robinho insists he has not heard anything from Barca though, adding: "I can assure that at this time my father, who is my only representative, has not told me anything about Barca. I repeat, I don't know anything.

"As well as that, out of respect to Manchester City who are my team, it must be the two clubs who talk about my loan or transfer and then they will tell me. It's not correct that we talk about this hypothetical transfer or loan until there is something more concrete.

"It's not a question of going on loan or being transferred, either in the winter transfer market or in the summer. It's a question of sitting down to talk when there is a serious and concrete offer, which, I repeat, has not arrived to me personally.

"Now it wouldn't be right to make more comments which could be misinterpreted. What is clear is that I have a contract with City and, like the professional that I am, my responsibility is to them."

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