Not every player who is credited with great talent at an early age makes it as far as predicted. More precisely, of the many names that are thrown at the football public year after year, almost none of them succeed to the extent that they have the potential for. There are many more who, for various reasons, do not get that far and have to accept a not so famous career. One of the second group is the Brazilian toy known as Robinho.
Robson de Souza was supposed to be the next Pelé, and not only did others say that about him, but above all the three-time world champion himself chose the then fifteen-year-old Robinho as the successor to his throne. Undoubtedly, this must please, but it is a relatively solid burden on the shoulders of a youngster who has just received a citizenship.
Just like Pelé and Robinho, he learned great football in Brazilian Santos, where he signed his first professional contract at the age of eighteen. But before he got to the academy, he played like a lot of Brazilian enthusiasts for round nonsense, especially futsal, thanks to which he refined his dribbling, orientation in small spaces and acceleration.
Although newly grown, it was soon clear that there was something special about the scrawny speedster. Balon was friends with him like few others and the Sao Vincente native did whatever he wanted with the defenders. With Santos, he won the league twice in three years and reached the Copa Libertadores final. As his star rose, it became clear to the management of Alvinegro Praiano that they would not be able to keep the youngster for long.
And so, after the battle between the big European clubs, Real Madrid presented him with glory at the Santiago Bernabeu. He sent a solid 24 million of it to Brazil and was looking forward to the samba that he will make defenders dance in the Spanish top flight.
And he didn’t get lost in Spain. He played the role of a substitute in the first season under Fabio Capello, but after his dismissal he established himself as a member of the starting eleven of the new coach Bernd Schuster. Together with Raúl and Van Nistelrooy, it worked and the skinny sikula was spreading football joy for Los Blancos.
But nothing lasts forever and on the last transfer day of the summer of 2008, he traveled to Manchester to sign for the Citizens.
His first season in England was quite successful, although the fans had to accept that the “new Pelé” wanted to defend the colors of rival Manchester United. He even became the team’s top scorer in the Premier League.
The second year of the EPL was not so successful, mainly due to injuries, due to which he played only 12 matches. It also began to leak out that Robinho’s ego could be a solid obstacle to the chemistry in the cabin and his lifestyle was also not exemplary.
This resulted in a run back to Santos, where he went on a two-year loan, after which he declared that he wanted to leave the blue part of Manchester.
He was lured by the famous AC Milan, where he transferred at the end of the summer of 2010. But the course was basically similar to that in City. A promising start, injuries and although he spent longer in Italy than in England, his engagement again ended with an escape loan at the well-known Santos.
A one-year loan was followed by a free transfer to China, from there back to Brazil, but this time he was playing for Atlético Mineiro, then two stints in Turkey and coming full circle back in the white Santos jersey.
With hindsight, it must be said that Robinho played for the best clubs in Spain, England and Italy, so there can be no question of a complete failure, but probably everyone expected something more.
Susceptibility to health problems, together with a bad lifestyle, which must necessarily prolong the recovery time, and an unhealthy high self-confidence caused that Robinho’s star did not rise as high and did not shine even by mistake for as long as all the Canaries wished.
Resources: Goal, Transfermarkt
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