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ROBINHO: SHIRT BLUNDER STOPPED ME JOINING CHELSEA

Robinho has revealed that Chelsea's mistake of putting shirts emblazoned with his name up for sale on their website prevented him from moving to Stamford Bridge.

According to the Brazilian, who moved to Manchester City on transfer deadline day, the revelation that his shirt was available on the Chelsea website angered Real Madrid to the extent that the Spanish giants refused to go ahead with a deal that had, until then, seemed an inevitability.

"Of course, my goal was to go to Chelsea," Robinho told reporters in his native Brazil. "But the mistake by Chelsea to put my name on the jersey without me having signed anything dented Real Madrid's pride."

Chelsea have claimed they were not responsible for the blunder, describing it as a "regrettable accident by an external supplier which was rectified as soon as it was brought to our attention."

Robinho himself has not been entirely immune to errors since his move to City was completed.

In conversation with reporters, he remarked: "On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted."

"You mean Manchester, right?" queried a reporter.

"Yeah, Manchester, sorry!" answered a bashful Robinho.