ROBINHO KEEN ON SANTOS

AC Milan striker Robinho has said that his former club Santos have asked whether he would be interested in joining them. The 28-year-old striker has been linked with a return to the Brazilian club Santos after growing frustrated about the lack of first-team action at the San Siro, which will not be helped if the rumours about Neymar joining come true.

However, it is expected that he will become the main striker alongside the Brazilian international Pato after the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Robinho has said that even though he has a special place in his heart for his former club Santos, he would like to stay with AC Milan for the moment.

The Italian club have been criticised by the fans for the lack of ambition after selling a number of high profile players in the summer in order to reduce the debt burden. Even though the club has promised that there will be one major addition to the squad before the end of the transfer window, it has not pacified the fans. The Santos president revealed a few days ago that the club had a £ 15 million offer rejected by the Italian club. However, it is not expected that they will come back with a new bid for the player.

“For Santos I am always available. I am good friends with the President, Luis Alvaro, and we talk frequently. It is true that Santos recent asked Milan about signing me, but they refused the offer. It is a fact that if in the future there should arrive a new offer, I would be ready to take it into consideration,” said the 28-year-old striker in a recent interview given to a Brazilian station. Robinho is currently in the United States as part of the pre-season tour. The club will be facing a number of high-profile teams in this pre-season tour.

ROBINHO WANTS TO STAY

AC Milan striker Robinho has said that he does not think that he will leave AC Milan in the summer. The 28-year-old Brazilian forward has been linked with a return to his home country after it has emerged that his former club Santos are interested in bringing him as an idol. However, following the recent departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to French club PSG, Robinho has become the main striker at the club alongside Alexandre Pato. As a result, it is understood that both the player and the club do not want to part ways at this stage.

Robinho arrived from Manchester City on a loan deal initially, but his move was made permanent shortly afterwards. Since making his permanent move to the San Siro, Robinho has grown in stature due to the experience of playing regularly. However, the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic meant that the Brazilian striker was always in the shadow of the Swedish striker. Even though AC Milan have said that they ideally would like to bring in another striker before the end of the transfer window, it is not expected to hurt the chances of Robinho playing regularly in the first-team. As a result, he has decided to stay at AC Milan according to his agent.

“There have not been any negotiations with Santos or Atletico. That possibility does not exist. He is fine at Milan and very happy at the club. Even if there was an offer, Atletico would have already had to table it to have enough time to sign him. From what I have read, he has friends at Atletico which would facilitate his transfer, but there is no such thing. Robinho must also be consulted, he needs to have the final word,” said Robinho’s agent Marisa Alija. AC Milan received a transfer fee of around £ 20 million for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

ROBINHO WILL STAY

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has said that he does not see star striker Robinho leaving the club in the summer. The 28-year-old former Manchester City striker has been linked with a return to his homeland after getting frustrated with the lack of first-team opportunities at San Siro.

Even though he has been part of the AC Milan team in some of the big matches like the quarter finals of the Champions League, Robinho has stated that he would not dismiss rumours linking him with his former club Santos in the summer. It is also thought that AC Milan would be willing to sell the 28-year-old in order to keep hold of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 30-year-old Swede has become an integral part of the AC Milan team. He finished as the top scorer in the division last season, but failed to retain the Italian Serie A title that he helped AC Milan lift. Ibrahimovic has been linked with a reunion with former Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini, who is currently interested in taking him Manchester City. Due to the fact that a number of high profile players like Zambrotta and Nesta have announced their exit from the club this season, vice-president Adriano Galliani does not expect more high-profile departures.

“Robinho received an offer from Brazil, but he will remain at Milan and be one of the five forwards in our squad,” said Adriano Galliani in a recent interview given to ESPN. Robinho’s entry into Europe came through the form of Real Madrid back in 2005. After just three years at the Santiago Bernabeu, he left for Manchester city in 2008 for a British transfer record fee of £ 32 million. He, however, failed to settle in England and made the permanent move to AC Milan only a few seasons ago.