Robinho misses training again as speculation continues

Brazil striker Robinho missed training with his club Santos for the second day running yesterday as speculation continued over a possible transfer to Real Madrid, Brazilian media said. Robinho bid farewell to Santos supporters after playing for the...

Brazil striker Robinho missed training with his club Santos for the second day running yesterday as speculation continued over a possible transfer to Real Madrid, Brazilian media said.

Robinho bid farewell to Santos supporters after playing for the Brazilian world champions on Wednesday as they beat Argentina 4-1 to win the Confederations Cup in Germany and said he was hoping to sign for Real Madrid. But Santos president Marcelo Teixeira immediately replied that Robinho had a contract until 2008 and that any club which wanted to buy the 21-year-old would have to pay a $50 million penalty. Real are widely reported to have offered $30 million.

Santos said on their official website that Robinho would be available for today's Brazilian championship match against Juventude. Yesterday, a news agency said that Teixeira held a three-hour meeting with Robinho and his representatives on Friday but failed to reach a compromise.

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