Robinho will still sign, say Real

Robinho helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup

Real Madrid are still confident they will sign Robinho despite the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) refusing to sanction the deal.

The CBF claims Robinho's club Santos are entitled to the full £28.75m buy-out clause - though Real say they should only have to pay 60%.

And Real head of media Antonio Garcia Ferreras said of the Brazil FA's decision: "It's what we were expecting.

"But I am convinced that the deal will go through."

The sticking point has been the amount of the 21-year-old Brazilian's buy-out fee to which Santos are entitled.

CBF legal director Carlos Eugenio Lopes said Santos are entitled to £28.75m, the sum in the release clause of Robinho's current contract.

"We are informing you that it is impossible for us to send the International Transfer Certificate for Santos player Robinho," CBF general secretary Marco Antonio Teixeira wrote in a fax to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

"Santos will not accept the transfer without full payment of the buy-out clause in the contract which is legally binding under Brazilian law, and which is fixed at $50m (£28.75m)."

The remaining 40% was to be paid to Robinho and his agent but Real media chief Antonio Garcia Ferreras claimed "they will forego their share".

But Lopes added that because Robinho is negotiating the end of his contract in advance, the striker is not entitled to receive a cut.

The three parties - Robinho, Santos and Real Madrid - must reach a common agreement before the CBF will sanction the deal.

My mind is at Real Madrid Robinho

Santos do not want to sell Robinho so Real Madrid have two options - pay the £28.75m or wait until 2008, when the Brazilian international's contract with Santos ends.

The Spanish giants have been chasing Robinho all summer and he recently refused to play any more games for Santos.

However, Santos insisted that Robinho still belonged to them and that they were due the full amount.

Robinho's agent Wagner Riberio previously claimed the transfer was all but settled.

He said: "Robinho is just waiting for a transfer certificate to travel. He waived the 40% to which he was entitled to be able to fulfil his dream of playing for Real Madrid."

The player had set his heart on playing in the Spanish capital and made it clear after helping Brazil win the Confederations Cup that he saw his future in Europe.

"It'll be good for the safety of my family," said Robinho, whose mother was kidnapped and held captive for 40 days last year before being released.

"Spain is an ideal country for Brazilian players and I know Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo very well. My mind is at Real Madrid."

Robinho refused to play any more games for Santos after the Confederations Cup.

And the player, who missed three Brazilian Championship matches, has been fined an undisclosed amount by Santos for every day he has failed to report for duty.

He has reportedly instructed his lawyers to take the case to a local labour court.