Manchester City forward Robinho is very close to securing a loan switch back to Brazil with a move to Santos now imminent.

Robinho's troubled time at Eastlands appears to be drawing to a close as the £32.5million British record transfer is set to return to his home country until the end of the season at least.

City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted the club are powerless to keep a player who wants to leave and the unsettled star said after scoring in the 4-2 FA Cup win at Scunthorpe on Sunday that he had played his last game for the Premier League side.

And now Santos communications co-ordinator Arnaldo Hase revealed they are "optimistic" a deal can be struck for the 26-year-old.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "We are respecting Manchester's directors, they have to be respected. We are optimistic without being too optimistic.

"The negotiations began last week, there were some mails between the Manchester directors and Santos directors.

"The Manchester directors agreed to the possibility of discussing the negotiation."

what a waste of money he has proved to be he is too weak for the premier league he his not half the player the brazilian press make him out to be

Manchester City have confirmed that Robinho has joined Brazilian club Santos on a six-month loan deal.

The former Real Madrid striker will fly out to Brazil on Sunday to link up with his new team and City have confirmed that Santos will takeover the player's contract terms, including his wages and bonuses.

Robinho has been heavily linked with a move away from Eastlands recently and has struggled for form this season, scoring just once in 12 appearances.

City boss Roberto Mancini has now said that Robinho has left so he can play more first-team football but stopped short of revealing whether he would ever play for City again.

"Robinho is someone who needs to be playing regularly and we wish him well for the period of his loan," Mancini told the club's official website.

well robinho is over-rated from the beginning. when he was playing in brazil before joining madrid. brazilian press compared him with brazilian greats. which is ridiculous. i m glad that he left man city. he doesnt deserve the wages he was earning in eastlands.

i think robinho should not have signed for real madrid. from brazil playing straight into madrid, is a big step and he never succeeded. if he would have joined some other mid-table teams then he could have adjusted well into big scene football. he wont be staying at santos for long. he will be sign contract with other european team at the end of the season.

He's found his level in Brazil then. He definitely was never cut out for the PL.