Real Madrid sign Robinho for €24m

Real Madrid have agreed to sign Santos striker Robinho for €24 million ($30m), the Spanish club said on their official website yesterday.

The 21-year-old Robinho is one of the world's most exciting players and was an ever-present in the Brazil team which won the Confederations Cup in Germany last month.

Santos had been demanding a $50 million penalty to release the player, who has a contract with them until 2008.

But Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro said the player had agreed to waive the 40 per cent to which he was entitled, which accounts for the shortfall of nearly $21 million.

"Robinho is just waiting for a transfer certificate to travel. He waived the 40 per cent to which he was entitled to be able to fulfil his dream of playing for Real Madrid," Ribeiro told Reuters.

Spanish media reported earlier yesterday that Robinho had undergone a medical check-up at a clinic in Sao Paulo before signing for Real.

Sports daily Marca said he was subjected to a battery of tests under the supervision of Joaquim Grava and Real's chief of medical staff Alfonso del Corral.