Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has revealed how he tried to sign Manchester City star Robinho while in charge of PSV Eindhoven.

Hiddink said: "I had a plan when I was manager of PSV to sign Robinho and I met him in Brazil. We had a plan to have him at the club, like we had Romario and then Ronaldo. Before going at that age to the big leagues, like the Spanish league and the Premier League, it's good to go to another league where they can get Champions League football but at a different level.

"I was really close to having him at that time but at the last moment Real Madrid came and then you are out-played, of course. What I like to say is that players must choose for their career. Their managers and agents have the responsibility to pick out a club for a career not always for where the money is, where there is more money than in other clubs."

Asked whether he felt Robinho was now at the right club for his career, Hiddink said: "I think Manchester City have a lot of plans. Let's see what the future brings."