Robinho's Barca comments

"It's not easy to say no to a club like Barcelona. They are European champions, they're in a lovely city and I like Spain a lot. I have always wanted to play at clubs like Barcelona. It's a great club, any player would be happy for them to show an interest. I'm happy that Barcelona have taken notice of me. Who wouldn't like to play alongside Xavi, [Andrés] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and all the rest. I like Barcelona; they're a great club."

>>guardian.co.uk

Much has been made of Robinho's comments, but given it is international week and a dearth of news floating round it is no surprise that these comments have been widely picked up.

It is easy to dismiss them as being 'out of context', but what would be interesting is to know to what question they were in response to. Reading them, whilst they appear to be a 'come and get me plea', they are very, very general (admittedly positive) comments about the club and its players.

What hasn't been put alongside these comments in the reports I have read is the recent comments from Robinho in which he was positive about the club and talking up our chances of winning the title:

"The club have set their sights high this year and backed that up in the transfer market," said Robinho.

"There have been great additions - now we need to understand we must be stronger mentally.

"If we can be like that this season and have what it takes to go for the title. The more I think about it, the more I think this year must be our year."

Whilst the comments may be somewhat overstated, do they equally not convey a message of being happy at the club? In addition, there has been nothing in his performances to suggest he is in any way unahppy or disllusioned at the club.

Rumours of Robinho's discontent have been present virtually since he signed for the club, and unfortunately appear to be an unwanted by product of having a player of his profile and reputation, but I would suggest the latest reports are little more than trying to engineer a story out of nothing.