Chelsea's expected purchase of Robinho has created excitement among the fans, manager and chief executive, but yesterday came a note of defiance from a player who may find his first-team opportunities limited if and when the Brazilian arrives.
Joe Cole has made an impressive start to the season, scoring the first goal of Luiz Felipe Scolari's tenure as Chelsea manager - in the 4-0 victory over Portsmouth - before again featuring in Sunday's win at Wigan. But the way Scolari shaped his side for both matches suggests the England man will be the one who will have to make way.
Cole is not fazed. "I've been at Chelsea for five years now and I've always played, even after we've brought in world-class players," he said. "I've always accepted the challenge and always took it on. This will just be another great challenge. As a footballer you've got to prove yourself every week regardless. You're out there in every game getting judged."
Having arrived from West Ham United for £6.6m in 2003, the 26-year-old has made 225 appearances and was last season voted the supporters' player of the year. And, as he points out, while he has survived, others of similar style have come and gone, including Arjen Robben and Damien Duff. "Robinho is a great player so having him around will be great for the squad," added Cole. "We want to win the title this season, that's the priority."
That ambition should be aided if the Brazilian forward is signed, although the chief executive, Peter Kenyon, was still in Madrid last night and Real's president, Ramón Calderón, stated the player would not leave until a replacement was found Their principal targets, David Villa and Santi Cazorla, signed extended deals with their current clubs, Valencia and Villarreal respectively, yesterday, and Real's sports director, Predrag Mijatovic, last night cast doubt on whether Robinho would be moving to Stamford Bridge. "Robinho still has two years left on his contract," he said. "Therefore he is our player for the next two seasons so you can draw your own conclusions from that."
Chelsea, meanwhile, were left embarrassed yesterday after replica "Robinho" shirts were advertised for sale on the club's official website. The club claim it is customary for kits to be prepared in advance for prospective new signings, to be made available as soon as any deal is completed, although this offer promoted kits sporting the Brazilian's name and the number "to be confirmed".
The advert has since been removed but the former Real defender Rafael Alkorta has criticised the London club. "I find it incredible that a club like Chelsea has not realised that not only is the deal not done but that the president and the coach of Real have said they do not want to sell," he said. "Maybe it was a mistake but it is a pretty astonishing mistake to make."
