On a 5 live last year, David Bernstein called the attempt to get Kaka: "The wrong player at the wrong time ... probably too early for a player of that stature, and too much attention would have been focussed on whether he succeeded or failed."
Same with Robinho, really.
In all the confusion of the takeover, I wonder how much of it was down to Al-Fahim, who was telling the press that day we were going to sign every superstar available.
Robinho was maybe the most skillful player to ever wear a City shirt (Kinky included), but the wrong player at that time, and under the wrong manager - for him, anyway. (Not saying Hughes was a bad manager, just not the kind Robinho needed.)
Did we need a 'marquee' signing at that time? a 'statement of intent?'
Not sure.
But it didn't work out for either party, so let's be thankful for the touches of brilliance that we saw, and accept that the Sheikh is probably less bothered about the £11m we lost than most of the pundits.