Galliani: Santos leading race for Robinho

27 December 2012 19:00

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says Santos are leading the chase for Robinho's signature.

Galliani is in South America attempting to arrange the transfer of want-away attacker Alexandre Pato, and it appears international team-mate Robinho is another player likely to leave during the January transfer window.

Galliani confirmed there is interest in the former Real Madrid man, but claimed Flamengo is no longer a potential destination for Robinho.

"There is the possibility of a sale to Santos," he told Globo Esporte.

"We haven't been able to reach an agreement with Flamengo though, while I still don't know about Atletico Mineiro."

Pato's potential move back to his homeland looks set to be completed in early January, with Corinthians having shown concrete interest in sealing a deal.

Robinho's destination, however, is less certain, with Sao Paulo's vice-president claiming his side have pulled out of the running for the ex-Manchester City forward.

Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes told ESPN Radio Estadao: "We have no interest in signing him.

"At one point there was an initial interest to understand how the business was, but internally we are convinced that, for a number of reasons, the athlete is not what we were looking (for)."