Robinho 'set to leave City'
Robinho's exit from City is just 'days away'
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 25, Jan 2010 04:18
By Sam Ross.
Manchester City's record signing Robinho has revealed he is on the brink of leaving the Premier League and joining Brazilian side Santos.
The unsettled forward is reportedly eager to leave Eastlands and is convinced he has played his last game for the club, claiming a loan return to Santos is "90 per cent certain".
The Brazilian club where Robinho began his professional career has allegedly already held talks with City while manager Roberto Mancini insists he wants Robinho to stay.
But the forward told Brazilian television network Globo that a deal with Santos is close.
"It's all on the right track. Santos are looking at the duration of my loan. Santos want a year, but City want just six months. In two or three days it should be sealed," he is quoted as saying.
The main issue surrounding a loan move for Robinho is apparently the cost of his wages.
City want any club that takes Robinho to contribute a sizable proportion of his weekly income, which is thought to be well over £100,000.
Robinho is expected to take a pay cut if he moves to Santos and has hinted the reason behind his desire to leave is a fear he won't play regular first-team football under Mancini in a World Cup year.
However, after his side's FA Cup victory over Scunthorpe on Sunday, Mancini announced - somewhat unconvincingly - that he wants and expects Robinho to stay.
He said: "I hope he will stay here. Hopefully in the end Robinho will stay here but it is important he will stay here, be happy and enjoy it.
"He is a very good player. I think he is enjoying Manchester."
Meanwhile Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro revealed that if a deal is struck with Robinho City would be allowed first refusal on their talented youngsters Paulo Henrique Ganso and Naymar.
He said: "They want the first choice to buy the two boys. That does not bother us because we will sell the players for the best offer.
"If City have the conditions to match the offer, they can have the players."
Robinho signed his first professional contract with Santos in 2002 when he was 17 years old and went on to score ten goals in 24 appearances in his debut season. In his second campaign, he scored 21 goals and led Santos to a second domestic title in 2004.
Shortly after this he secured a big-money move to Real Madrid, although after a stop-start period in the Spanish capital he joined City for a club record £32.5 million on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2008.