Robinho closes on Manchester City exit as Besiktas make £26m offer

Manchester City could soon be set to finally part ways with Robinho, and in the process, recoup most of their record investment on the Brazilian. Turkish giants Besiktas have submitted a formal offer of £26m for the former Real Madrid star, with £16m up front and a further £10m in performance-related add-ons.

According to the Guardian’s report, the two clubs have been involved in negotiations off and on for several weeks, and the bid was officially submitted this afternoon. The report also says that it is believed that the 26-year-old has already agreed in principle to a four-year deal to join Besiktas.

If Robinho joins Besiktas, he would be reunited with former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster and former Real teammate Guti, both of whom came to Istanbul this summer. Besiktas, who beat HJK Helsinki 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier on Tuesday, have also signed well-traveled winger Ricardo Quaresma this summer.

Robinho arrived at City from Real in a stunning £32.5m deal on deadline day in the summer of 2008, and he scored 14 Premier League goals in his first season at Eastlands. However, things quickly went south, and he made only six Premier League starts last season before being sent out on loan to former club Santos, with whom he won the Copa do Brasil earlier this month.

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