Manchester City Signs Robinho, Manchester United Signs Berbatov

Manchester City signed Brazil forward Robinho for what reports said was a British record fee after Thaksin Shinawatra agreed to sell the Premier League soccer team to an Abu Dhabi investment company on transfer deadline day.

Robinho, 24, joined on a four-year contract, City said on its Web site without disclosing the fee, a day after he held a press conference stating his desire to join Chelsea. City paid Real Madrid 42 million euros ($61.2 million) for Robinho, who will receive 6 million euros a year after tax, Sky Sports said.

``In order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this caliber, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world,'' City manager Mark Hughes told his club's Web site.

City's prospective owners -- Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment -- fulfilled their promise of purchasing a ``high profile'' player minutes before the trade period closed yesterday at midnight London time. City had earlier agreed to a fee for Dimitar Berbatov before the Tottenham striker instead joined cross-town rival Manchester United.

The Premier League champion will pay 30.75 million pounds ($55 million) for Berbatov, Tottenham said on its Web site.

News Courtsey: bloomberg.com