Manchester City striker Robinho told Brazilian radio on Sunday that
he is about to leave the Premier League club, and the president of
his former team in Brazil said transfer talks have already began.
Robinho told Radio Bandeirantes that he had been advised by
Man City directors that Sunday's match against Scunthorpe in the FA
Cup would probably be the Brazilian forward's last for the club.
Robinho would likely return to Brazilian club Santos on a
loan, although the striker said details of the possible deal had
not been plotted out yet.
Santos president Luiz Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro said the
club is already negotiating with Man City directors and will meet
with them in London on Tuesday.
However, new City manager Roberto Mancini seemed unsure on
Sunday whether Robinho would stay or leave.
"In the next day the situation can change, but at the moment
he stays here and I am very happy for him," Mancini said after
City's 4-2 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe in which the Brazilian scored
the final goal.
"I hope he will stay here but it is important he will stay
here happy and enjoy it. He is a very good player. I think he is
enjoying Manchester.
"I think one player can stay in a squad only if he is happy -
if he wants to play every game and if he wants to work every day.
That is most important because the players and manager must be
happy," Mancini added.
Oliveira told Radio Bandeirantes that he talked to Robinho a
couple of days ago and the club is already looking for a new
sponsor to try to pay for Robinho's salary if he returns.
"We are already working on that," Ribeiro said. "I'm sure
Robinho's name will attract a lot of attention."
Robinho admitted he was not playing well for City, but
complained that he was not being allowed to play regularly under
Mancini.
"The coach was very sincere with me and said that I would
play every other match," Robinho said. "I told him that would not
be interesting to me, it's a World Cup year."
Robinho said he wanted to return to Brazil to boost his
chances of securing a place in Brazil's World Cup side.
"I want to be playing as a starter, I want to be playing
well," Robinho said. "We are four, five months from the World Cup.
We all know that there is a lot of competition to play for Brazil."
Robinho has been a regular in Brazil's squad under coach
Dunga, but several players have been competing for a position in
the team's attack for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Among
those vying for a spot are Adriano and Ronaldo, who recently
successfully decided to leave European football to try to attract
Dunga's attention in Brazil.
Robinho, who will turn 26 on Monday, said he was disappointed
with the style of coaches in European football.
"They choose a formation and want you to play in it, it
doesn't matter if you are short or tall," he said.
Robinho would likely get a pay cut if he ends up leaving Man
City to play for Santos, but he said that would be OK.
"The financial situation is important, but being happy also
counts," he said. "To play with Santos again would be exceptional."
Robinho moved from Real Madrid to Manchester City for a
British-record fee of 32.5 million pounds (euro40 million; US$58
million) in 2008. He reached stardom while playing for Brazilian
club Santos, Pele's former club, before going to Spain in 2005.
He led Santos to the national league titles in 2002 and 2004,
in a team that also had Juventus midfielder Diego.
Robinho said he talked to Diego recently and said his friend
told him to go play with him at Juventus, but Robinho said he would
rather return to Santos.
