Catalan sports paper Sport reported that Barcelona is considering giving Robinho (25) an opportunity to prove to Real Madrid, that they have done him a great injustice. It would, undoubtedly be a masterstroke by the Blaugrana, since Robinho would come with a insatiable desire to regain his image in the Spanish League and of vindicating himself as an exceptional player, while Laporta could somehow return the favour to Real Madrid for their interference in the failed signing of Ribery and its constant public desires for the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

The signing is said to be well under way.  In fact, Sport thinks the deal could be closed during the Club World Cup tournament in Abu Dhabi, to be held in mid-December, where a meeting between Barcelona president, Joan Laporta and the Owner of Manchester City could be arranged.

In principle, Barcelona will place a transfer request with the English club until the end of the season with a purchase option. Initially the Blaugrana club could put down €4 million as a pre-agreement, but the English club might want Barcelona to pay more, a move that could hinder further negotiations.

Pep Guardiola could have personally given his blessing to this deal in order to give Frenchman Thierry Henry, who currently has no natural replacement at left-wing, some competition. Iniesta and Pedro are the players who had to play as a makeshift left-winger when Henry was absent. This summer, Barcelona tried their utmost to meet Pep Guardiola’s requirement of strengthening the left flank by trying to get Bayern Munich’s star, France’s Franck Ribéry, but the operation was eventually foiled by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s manoeuvres.

And this Barcelona interest in Robinho could be a good business proposal for Manchester City as Robinho is said to have an open feud with his coach, former Blaugrana himself, Mark Hughes. In fact, the player himself had acknowledged to his closest circles his wish would leave the English club during the winter transfer market, and that Barcelona’s offer is the one he wants, among others, although it could initially be only for a six-month loan.

One of the key persons responsible for making this operation a success is the scout, Pepe Costa, who for many years has maintained a close relationship with several Brazilian players including with the Manchester City striker.

Robinho is currently injured in his right ankle, and is out for three weeks, while his performance at the English club so far this season is rather disappointing. In fact, the striker has only played three competitive games.

Either way, even if ultimately the deal fails, FC Barcelona will still have two other players in their sights,  Shakhtar Donetsk’s Willian (21), or Valencia’s Juan Mata (21).