London, Sep 1: England's Chelsea football club has branded Spain's Real Madrid club 'hypocrites' as both enter the race to sign Brazilian football star Robinho.

According to The Sun, there is only a 50-50 chance the 28-million-pound deal will go through before tonight's transfer deadline. Real are angry with the Blues for going public about their interest in the striker. While Chelsea chiefs are furious after Real spent all summer courting Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo in the media.

A Blues statement read: "There's nothing wrong with publicly confirming our interest in a player when the club involved is well aware of it, been in receipt of two bids and is negotiating to sell the player. So we completely refute any criticism from Real."

After Robinho told a Press conference yesterday he wanted to quit the Spanish side, Real responded with a scathing statement.

It said: "Madrid regrets the behaviour of the Chelsea directors who, despite knowing our decision was to not sell the player, have continued to make gestures and comments, even going so far as to sell the player's shirt on its website."

ANI