The agent of Real Madrid star Robinho has revealed how close he came to joining Arsenal last year.

Wagner Ribeiro said: "In the summer of 2007, I spoke with Pedja (Mijatovic, sports director of Real) and told him that Robinho was not happy because Fabio Capello had put him on the bench and would not play him.

"Robinho had a proposal from Arsenal and I told him that if things continued as they were, he would leave for London.

"But Pedja said: 'Do not let him leave, Robinho will be the best in the world and I want that he remains in Madrid.'"