Robinho ready to buy out contract?

Robinho is ready to break away from his contract under the Webster ruling and leave his club with a token US$16 million sum.

Despite being tied to the club for another two years, the Brazilian starlet, who moved to Real from Santos in 2005, is said to be unhappy and disillusioned ever since the Los Merengues viewed him as a pawn in a player-plus-clash deal for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

With Chelsea and new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari now looking to snag him to London, Robinho might take advantage of the Webster ruling and break away from Real’s books.

His apparent decision stems from Article 17 of FIFA's transfer regulations, which stipulates that any player who signs a deal when aged below 28 is able to unilaterally break that contract after just three years.

Spanish paper Marca believe that Robinho’s potential buying out decision could leave Real with a paltry US$16 million compensation, a stark reality to the estimated US$80 million Robinho is priced at by Real.

His choice to buy out his contract would follow in the footsteps of FC Porto midfielder Paulo Assunção, who decided to break his contract with the Portuguese Champions and he is now on the verge of completing a move to Atletico Madrid.

By Mohd Sham (espnstar.com)