Brazil’s 2-1 defeat of North Korea on Tuesday wasn’t particularly impressive.
However there was one player who seemed to be really up for the game and that player was Manchester City’s Robinho.
Some might say that he wasn’t playing against world-class opponents but he looked like he would make something happen every time he had the ball.
Form
The little attacker looked back to his best form. He was full of stepovers and little fancy flicks. He does the things that you expect from Brazilian players.
He adds something different than most of his teammates. Arguably only Kaka in the Brazilian team can claim to be anywhere near as technically gifted as the 26 year-old.
Disappointment
Robinho arrived in England as major star. He was the marquee signing that signalled the arrival of City’s new mega-rich owners. His signing was supposed to be the springboard for Manchester City to start signing other world-class players and challenge for honours.
However within 18 months he had went from world-class attraction to flop. He loved playing home games for City but then away from home he tended to disappear. City fans also accused him of showing a lack of bottle or willingness to work.
There were even suggestions that he didn’t like the weather in England and it was making him depressed. It seems that his struggles in England are down to a lack of mental strength. It also seems everything needs to be right in his head for him to perform to his full ability.
International
When he plays for his country he’s like a different player to the one who sulked through the last few months of his time at Manchester City. He’s full of vim and vigour. He looks like the Robinho who first burst onto the football scene as a teenager.
He plays the game with a smile on his face for Brazil. This is surely down to the fact that he is more comfortable with his international teammates than he was with his City teammates. It’s been suggested that his City teammates wanted him to work harder for the team.
He was never going to be a workhorse. He was never that sort of player and never will be. City signed him to produce bits of magic, not do donkey work. They signed him because he is capable of producing fantastic skill and vision.
Move
A January loan move back home to Brazil with Santos seems to have slightly rejuvenated him. The months out of the spotlight of the English press probably gave him some time to enjoy his football again.
In England he was considered a flop. In Brazil he is a superstar who is expected to help his nation win the World Cup. No wonder he prefers to play his football in his homeland. I know where I would to prefer to be if I was in his small boots.
Future
I’ve got a feeling that if Brazil does well at the World Cup, which is more than likely, then Robinho will have played a major part in their success. The big question is which club next for Robson De Souza?
It appears his future is not in Manchester. Although he has said he would be open to a return to Manchester City, it now seems unlikely. Spanish giants Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the star but they have just snapped up Valencia striker David Villa.
However Barca could part company with strike pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry this summer. Both failed to impress last season and Robinho could replace Henry. His style is suited to the Spanish game better than that of English football but every Barcelona player is expected to work hard for the team and as previously mentioned he doesn’t exactly work hard for his teams.
Rejuvenated
On his day Robinho is the sort of player that every football fan wants to watch. When on-form he’s the sort of player you get excited about whenever he’s near the ball. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will be talking about Robinho’s brilliant performances and that his massive talent isn’t wasted.
