The Cityzens raised eyebrows with their deadline day move for the Brazilian back in 2008 to kick-start the arrival of a host of superstars on their rise to dominance.
However, Robinho has now lifted the lid on his switch to the Premier League from Real Madrid.
And he admitted only a bust-up between Bernabeu chiefs and Chelsea stopped him from signing for his countryman Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge.
Robinho, 34, told FourFourTwo: “I wanted to go to Chelsea, Scolari told me that I could make the difference for him in the team.
“However, Real Madrid ended up badly with them, they didn't like the way that Chelsea sold shirts with my name on them before the deal was done.
“I am sure it was this that led to the negotiations to fail and it was a case of pride for Real Madrid. They were also reluctant to let me move to a club that was playing in the Champions League that season. Chelsea were, but City weren’t.”
But Robinho insisted he had no regrets about moving to The Etihad – although he wishes his time at Real had ended on better terms.
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The forward, currently playing for Turkish side Sivasspor, said: “I moved to a great club and they welcomed me in the best way. I had one-and-a-half years of joy in Manchester, despite the city being a lot colder than Madrid!
“I don't regret leaving Madrid but I am sorry that it ended badly when I went.
“Madrid were the club that opened their doors and gave me the chance to succeed in Europe, perhaps the way that I fought to leave harmed the memories of the good things I did for the team.
“I helped to make them champions and I think I played well but I had made up my mind to leave and I have an explosive character.
“Madrid were the team that had put most interest in me.
“Both clubs (Madrid and Barcelona) are big and have fans around the world but when Madrid came for me I saw that they had a group of Brazilians in the squad and the coach was Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Why would I go to Barcelona?”
Robinho scored 14 times in 41 Prem matches for City before heading back to his boyhood club Santos on loan.
He left Manchester permanently in 2010 to sign for Italian giants AC Milan.
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