Real coach says Robinho has joined ´mediocre´ club

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said Monday that Brazil international Robinho, who made a shock move from the Spanish champions to Manchester City earlier this month, had joined a “mediocre” club.

“From a sports point of view, for me it is a disappointment because Robinho had everything here to triumph,” he told private television Cuatro.

“But you have to respect his dream to be a good player in a mediocre club in England,” the German coach added.

Robinho, who was under contract with nine-time European Champions Real until 2010, had repeatedly said he was determined to join Chelsea, who are now coached by former World Cup-winning Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

But in the final minutes of the transfer window on September 1, the 24-year-old winger signed a four-year deal with Manchester City — who were playing second-tier football just six years ago — after Chelsea refused to meet Real's asking price of 40 million euros (57 million dollars).

Robinho had been unhappy with Real over their willingness to sell him to fund a failed move to sign Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

He scored his debut goal for Manchester City during his new side's 3-1 loss on Saturday to Chelsea.

Manchester City was recently taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group which is funded by the Abu Dhabi royal family. The club's new owners have vowed to transform it into one of the world's best.

Robinho joined Real from Brazilian club Santos for 30 million dollars in 2005 after a lengthy tug-of-war.