Robinho has really mismanaged his career so far, with blockbuster transfers that always see the club he leaves unpleasant with the way things were handled. So it came as no surprise the news that this skilfull player was not happy with the bench in Manchester, and wanted out.

His motives may be easy to understand, the surge of Ronaldinho Gaúcho in Milan threatens his spot in the Brazilian National team that is going to South Africa. Reportedly, coach Dunga told him that he needs to play somewhere to justify his presence in the squad. However, he is not even performing enough to prove he can be in the Brazilian bench. Mancini compared Robinho to Adriano: when he was back in Internazionale, the forward came back to Brazil to play for half a season for São Paulo, and then came for good to play for Flamengo and clearly improved his football. Adriano is now considered a no brainer for a spot in South Africa. Now all four forwards that were in the Seleção in 2006 are playing in Brazil, with Ronaldo in Corinthians and Fred in good shape in Fluminense.

One thing Robinho will surely have in Brazil is weaker opponents. Santos first half of the season brings two challenges: the Campeonato Paulista, a local tournament that runs until May, mostly with teams that are not even in the national championship, and some big clubs, like São Paulo and Corinthians, with their eye on another crown, the Copa Libertadores. Santos will also play the Brazilian Cup with teams that do not get a spot in the Libertadores, the Cup is always a good place to show off and win a title after just 12 games.

So now, at an age where he should be peaking in performance, Robinho chooses to surrender for a spot in a Premier League contender to come back to Brazil, a good measure to understand how his career got off track is a really common coparison that brazilian media makes everytime that Robinho is not playing well, watch Tevez! They were born just two weeks apart 26 years ago, in poor neighborhoods near big cities. In 2003, they first met when Tevez helped Boca win the Libertadores final against Robinho and Santos in São Paulo. Then in 2005 Tevez accepted the shady MSI offer to come to Corinthians and they won that year’s Brazilian Championship. Robinho went to Real Madrid and Tevez managed to save West Ham from relegation prior to two good seasons with United, they met again in the City of Manchester Stadium, and it is easy to assume why the supporters like the Argentinian so much.

Dunga probably will call Robinho up to the team for South Africa, but this will be make or bust for him, a really good player that has an enourmous ego and was labeled as a flop in the UK.

During his first game back in Brazil today, Robinho came off the bench and capped a cross magically, giving Santos the win over São Paulo. In a much anticipated game by the brazilian media, Robinho was exactly… Robinho.

Tags: Manchester City, Robinho, Santos, Tevez