Robinho interview: The Manchester City star on Real Madrid, Phil Scolari and City transfer targets

Brazilian striker Robinho has made his mark at Man City since joining in the summer. Here he shares his thoughts on Premier League football, leaving Real Madrid and who he'd sign at City.

Why did you decide to join Manchester City?
"The truth is that Manchester City were the only club that Real Madrid allowed me to go to. At that time, the only proposal that had come was from Chelsea. There was no other official offer and the only team interested in me were Chelsea. I thought I was going there, but Real Madrid wouldn't let me play for them and I didn't have any intention of staying there. Then Manchester City made a good offer for me.. I don't know if it was a matter of pride…maybe because Chelsea put shirts on sale before they had signed me and that annoyed Real Madrid. The other reason is that Chelsea are a big side that play in the Champions League and it's possible that they might face each other in the future. Real Madrid didn't let me go to Chelsea and I ended up coming to City. I am happy here. I want to see out my contract and keep bringing joy to the supporters."

What made you realise that Real Madrid wasn't the club for you?
"Real Madrid weren't valuing me as I thought I deserved. Then there came the Chelsea offer. 'Big Phil' working there, great team… I wanted to play there. But in the end Real Madrid couldn't get the player they were expecting and I ended up coming to Manchester City. They made me a good offer and as I didn't want to stay at Madrid, I decided to leave."

How do you rate Chelsea coach 'Big Phil' Scolari
"Big Phil for me is one of the best coaches of the world. I don't consider him the best because I've never played for him, but I think he's one of the best. But even before his arrival, Chelsea had made me an offer, they wanted me. After his arrival, their interest strengthened. He is doing well. 'Big Phil' is a person who I like, even without having played for him. He's the Brazilian coach who will 'open doors' for other coaches to come here. When a Brazilian player comes to England and is successful he ends up opening doors to other players. I was upset because Vanderlei (Luxemburgo), who is another great coach, one of the best of the world, didn't have success at Real Madrid. Maybe if they had let him work, with time, he would have. Certainly other good coaches would have come. 'Big Phil', in two years time will make history at Chelsea and he will be England's coach if he wants to.

How do you rate Manchester City as a side?
"They have excellent players here at Manchester City, but what they lack is the mentality of champions. At Real Madrid, I learnt a will to win. Here they have a good team, but they're content with just finishing 5th or 6th. For me you can only be content when you're champions. You can only be content with winning away. You need to want to beat Chelsea at their home, to beat Manchester United, to beat Liverpool. They are content with little, just a draw might be good enough. Maybe I have changed this mentality a bit, we beat Arsenal, we played well against Chelsea although we didn't win. The mentality has to change. And now City have a project to become big… Chelsea two or three years ago were a small side and now they are a big powerful football club. I want to inspire a winning mentality, as I've learnt in the clubs where I've played. I've learnt that being second is worthless. I played at Santos, where the supporters want to win every tournament we play in. The same was true at Real Madrid and the same with the Brazil national team. As I said, City have good players, but the mentality of a small side. If we think bigger we can be there too."

Does Mark Hughes need to sign more players in January?
"Well, they ask me if there are players to be signed…I have suggested Kléber the Santos left back, Thiago Silva who plays at Centre back for Fluminense, who's been playing very well. The coach mentioned Luisão, who is Brazilian and plays for Benfica. Now the transfer window will open in January, and obviously here we have good players, but if the club wants to be big, we have to sign more players."

Who would you like Man City to sign?
"Who would I sign? Kaká, Ronaldo (Brazilian) if I could choose, there are so many good players. But well, at this moment the team needs to improve the defence. When you build a house you have to start from the floor. You have to start from the bottom, the defence, and then you fix the attack."

Robinho was speaking exclusively to Football Matters on Setanta Sports 1.

Get your hands on this week's estimated jackpot of £100,000 by playing the New Football Pools .

Find out what our resident Premier League fan bloggers think - and let them know your views.

Follow every Premier League game live with our brilliant Match Tracker .