Robinho Returning to Santos for Just Above Brazil’s Minimum Wage Rate

Robinho isn’t afraid to earn a lot less to play for his boyhood club…

The 36-year-old Brazilian professional footballer and former Manchester City forward has signed a five-month contract with former club Santos, and he’ll earn $271 (R$1.500) a month, which is just above the country’s minimum wage.

Robinho

Robinho re-joined his boyhood club for a third stint as a free agent, having left Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir shortly after helping them win their first Super Lig title last season.

“I will play for a minimum wage, but the most important thing is to be here,” Robinho told the club’s official website.

“I am well physically and mentally, obviously there is still a little bit of rhythm [missing], but that over time we will gradually evolve.”

Robinho, who shot to fame after making his professional debut with Santos in 2002, went on to play for Real Madrid, City and AC Milan, among other clubs.

He won two national championships, two Paulista tournaments and the Brazilian Cup in his previous two spells with Santos.

“I have many fond memories here,” Robinho added. “The fans can be certain that I will give my best to help Santos FC on and off the pitch.

Santos FC is going through a difficult financial time. So this is the time for those who can do something. I want to help the club that always gave me everything. Santos FC has already done a lot for me and this return is still little.”

Santos are going through financial difficulties and could soon face a transfer ban from FIFA over unpaid debts.

Chilean club Huachipato are demanding Santos to complete the $3.4m deal over the signing of Venezuelan striker Jefferson Soteldo, while Colombian outfit Atletico Nacional claim they are still owed $774,000 from the sale of defender Felipe Aguilar.

Robinho Reportedly Joining Chinese Club Guangzhou Evergrande

It looks like Robinho is headed to Asia…

The 31-year-old Brazilian soccer player, known for his ball control, attacking instinct and dribbling, is reportedly set to join former Seleção Brasileira de Futebol coach Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande, according to Brazilian media.

Robinho

The news comes as Robinho wrapped up his third spell at Santos Futebol Clube.

The former Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan attacker, known for his elaborate stepovers, said he was hopeful of returning to Santos in the future after the club said they couldn’t afford to match the offers from overseas.

“Unfortunately it will not be possible to renew my contract. But Santos FC will always be in my heart,” Robinho said in a statement.

“FC Santos will go great, because it is above any player. I will try to remain happy doing what I like best, which is play football and hopefully one day return.”

Brazil media said Robinho, who was part of the Brazil side that exited the Copa America on Thursday following a quarterfinal penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay, would be joining four-times reigning Chinese champions Guangzhou.

The Chinese club appointed 2002 World Cup winning coach Scolari earlier this month after sacking Italian Fabio Cannavaro after less than half a season in charge.

Scolari has been quick to make changes and signed Brazilian midfielder Paulinho from English outfit Tottenham Hotspur on Monday for a reported fee of around $15 million.

Telo’s International Hit “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” Tops Billboard Latin Charts

It may have been released more than four months ago, but Michel Teló’s international hit “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” has finally catapulted its way to the top of the Billboard charts.

The 31-year-old Brazilian country singer and songwriter’s song, which has reached No. 1 in 15 countries across Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin America since its release last November, has reached the peak on the Billboard Latin Songs chart and the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart.

Michel Telo

The single—which has been covered by Pitbull, praised by Perez Hilton and danced to by soccer stars like Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring goals has a catchy repetitive chorus, accordion hook and lyrics about a guy trying to seduce a girl.

The song was officially written in 2008 by Sharin Acioly, who first heard the phrase from a group of girls in Port Seguro who were singing and dancing to a song they’d come up with as a joke.

Teló heard the song in Salvador during a forro concert last year and decided he wanted to perform the song to a Sertanejo (Brazilian country music) rhythm. So he reached out to Acioly and they worked out a deal.

In no time, the soccer community helped bring “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” to millions around the globe. Teló has publicly thanked soccer star Neymar who plays for Brazil’s Santos club for popularizing the song with choreography he created in the team locker room.

Ronaldo and his teammate Marcelo followed in Neymar’s footsteps by celebrating goals by dancing to the song. Later a video was released of AC Milan‘s Robinho, Thiago Silva and Pato performing the choreography on a bus and suddenly the song was a global phenomenon.

Ai Se Eu Te Pego” even made its way to the NBA thanks to Rudy Fernandez and a video of him and his Denver Nuggets teammates dancing to the track.

The official music video has been viewed more than 280 million times on YouTube, and has been translated and subtitled in multiple languages including English, Polish and Italian. And, Telo’s record label, Som Livre, estimates that the single has been downloaded two million times around the world.