Real will ´not keep Robinho against his will´

Real Madrid said Saturday it would not keep Chelsea target Robinho if the Brazilian striker is determined to leave the Spanish champions.

“Real Madrid would never retain a player on the team against his wishes and would have no choice but to call for a unilateral resolution of the contract if the player willed it so,” the club said on its website.

The club said it “deeply regrets” the Brazilian striker's expressed desire to leave, “given the high personal and professional esteem that the club has always held the player in, as he deserves.”

Chelsea have been bidding to sign the 24-year-old following the appointment of his countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager at Stamford Bridge.

The London club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, arrived in Spain on Thursday to table a final offer of 37 million euros, up seven million euros on their original proposal, Spanish media reported Friday.

Madrid is reportedly ready to accept 40 million euros.

Robinho's agent, however, has said that Real had closed the door on his move to the Premier League.