Ex-AC Milan coach says Robinho's sold his football soul for money

Former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi believes that Brazilian forward Robinho’s life is in a huge mess, and that he sold his football soul for lucre.

Sacchi despairs of Robinho’s decision to quit Real Madrid to join Manchester City for 32.5 million pounds and is concerned for his state of mind after deserting the club’s training camp to return to Brazil.

Sacchi said: “He totally messed up, no one can choose to leave Real Madrid in order to go to a club like Man City!

“A top player aged only 24 can never leave Real Madrid like he did and for those reasons.”

Sun Sport revealed yesterday how Robinho now believes he made the wrong choice moving to Eastlands.

Robinho, 24, spent yesterday with his wife, son and mother at home in Sao Paulo while the storm surrounding his unauthorised trip raged on.

Sacchi is not surprised by the space of time it has taken for his City career to plunge into chaos.

Sacchi believes Robinho is a shadow of his former self.

“He obviously lost his head looking at all those figures and let the money dictate. It wasn’t a footballing choice. And now, at City, he’s lost the happiness that football gave him,” concluded Sacchi.