Man City order Robinho to return from Santos

Robinho, who cost City £32.4 million from Real Madrid in August 2008, is on loan at Brazilian club Santos and is still being paid £150,000-a-week.

Santos can only afford a small proportion of Robinho's wages, and City need to find a resolution for a player who has fallen out with manager Roberto Mancini. Indeed, there seems little hope of reconciliation.

"Manchester City have asked Robinho to come back and report on August 5, the player has no choice, even though he wants to stay with Santos." A source close to Robinho told Soccernet.

"He loves the lifestyle, the football, and the beach. He doesn't want to swap that for the Manchester rain! There was an offer from Turkey, but it wasn't enough money for City, and in any case could you see Robinho going to Turkey? Hardly. He wants to be back in Santos.

"That is his hometown, they love him there, he walks down the street and he is the biggest celebrity in town, and after training he's straight to the beach. After a game, he's back on the beach. The football is great for him, he can show off his skills.''

But with City keen to offload him, the Brazilian's future looks unclear and he may even struggle to find another club in England.

"With City he is expected to run for 90 minutes, if they pick him, that is,'' the source added. ''He might be tempted to play for a club in London, though, if anyone could afford his wages, but they couldn't.

"So, the big question is what do City do with Robinho, what can they do with him? Having invested so much money in the player it is a tricky problem for them."