Manchester City's Robinho to join Santos on loan

Robinho has featured sporadically for Manchester City so far this season

Manchester City's unhappy Brazil international Robinho is to join his former club Santos on a six-month loan.

Santos will assume Robinho's contract, including his wages and bonuses - although he has agreed to a reduction - until the loan ends on 4 August.

"He is someone who needs to be playing regularly and we wish him well," said City manager Roberto Mancini.

The 26-year-old forward scored his first goal of the season in City's 4-2 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe on Sunday.

Robinho, who cost a British transfer record £32.4m when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2008, was keen to return to Brazil as he attempts to ensure his selection for the World Cup.

The possibility of an extension to the contract continues to be a dream but we believe that dreams can come true Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro

After a promising start to his City career, Robinho's form deserted him and he has started only eight games in all competitions this campaign, prompting links to Barcelona.

Robinho won the Brazilian championship twice with Santos and helped them reach the 2003 Libertadores Cup final before leaving for Real.

"At the beginning I thought this (loan idea) didn't go beyond a distant dream but when I spoke to the player I realized that his will would be fundamental," said Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro.

"The big difficulty was the financial operation, despite Robinho being prepared to take a pay cut to play for Santos again. From then on, we set up a financial enterprise to make the signing viable.

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"Robinho will hand over his image and become an advertising model during the period of the contract with Santos.

"In exchange for that, there's a financial input to cover the demands of a great star. Santos will pay barely a small portion of the salary within our means.

"Robinho, with his charisma, his performance on the pitch and his image of an idol, will attract better sponsors to Santos and all this at zero cost to the club.

"The possibility of an extension to the contract continues to be a dream but we believe that dreams can come true."

He said Robinho would be officially unveiled at a big event next week and could make his debut against Sao Paulo on 7 February.