RICARD TO QUIT COLOMBIA FOR BORO - ZIEGE OFFERED £50K
26-year-old Ricard, who has been impressive in pre-season, admitted that the pressures of top-flight football made representing your country almost impossible - and that he had to think of his career above and beyond his love of playing for his South American nation.
"It is too difficult to play for the national team and in the Premiership, said Ricard. "My priority now is Middlesbrough.
"Colombia's next game is this month against Uruguay and I won't be playing. Everybody loves playing for their country but I want to concentrate on my Premiership career.
"Colombia may not qualify for the finals. I don't think they will and then all those long trips to play in South America will have been pointless."
Meanwhile, Robson has reportedly offered Ricard's team-mate Christian Ziege a massive £50,000-a-week to stave off a move to Premiership giants Liverpool.
The German international has admitted that he is struggling to decide between staying in the North East or moving to Anfield - but Robson is desperate to keep hold of one of the most talented left sided players in English football and will hope that the promise of a new contract will be conclusive.
It is also being reported that Boro boss Robson is monitoring Ugo Ehiogu's situation at Aston Villa and may table a substantial bid to lure the unsettled defender away from the Midlands.