Robinho Returns To Santos

Robinho’s career turned full circle Thursday as he left Manchester City to re-join his first club, the Brazilian side Santos. Less than 18 months after joining City from Real Madrid in a British transfer record busting $50 million move, the $200,000 a week star has returned to where it all began.

Robinho had been deemed the new Pelé at the age of 15 by Pelé himself. He certainly showed the right potential as he led Santos to their first (and second) league title since the days when Pelé was a player for them. Robinho was attracting attention from European clubs for a number of seasons before Santos realized they couldn’t hold on to their prize asset and he left to join Real Madrid for a $33 million transfer deal. After 3 successful seasons in Madrid it appeared he was going to join Chelsea of the English Premier League but, at the last minute, he joined Manchester City. Unconfirmed rumors at the time suggested that even when signing the paperwork, he thought he was joining Chelsea and was disappointed when he realized he was joining a then mid-table team who didn’t play in the European Champion’s League.





After a relatively successful first season at City with 15 goals, Robinho found it difficult to claim a regular first team place. The low point of his English career came earlier this month when he came on as a second half substitute against Everton but found himself substituted before the end of the game.

The initial deal with Santos is a 6 month loan move where Santos will pay his wages up until the start of August after which City will presumably try and cash in their asset on the European market.