Calderon: Robinho can buy out contract

11:30am Saturday 23rd August 2008

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has hinted wantaway forward Robinho will have to buy himself out of his contract to facilitate a move to Chelsea.

The 24-year-old has made no secret of his desire to link up with compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge, and the Spanish champions on Friday night issued a statement insisting they will not keep the player against his wishes.

Calderon said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: "It's not necessarily that he will have to pay the 150 million euros (buyout fee). He would end his contract but the courts will decide what he has to pay."

He added: "No player will be kept here against their will. This does not mean that Madrid will not defend the interests of the club,"

"I can tell you that Madrid are not going to transfer Robinho. We are not going to sell him. If he wants to go, then he should go now. Telling the press about it is not the right way to do things,"

"I'm sure that Robinho has already weighed up the consequences of his decision and I'm sure that in the next few days he will give a letter to the club to announce that he wants to go. If he does not want to be here, he should leave as soon as possible."