Robinho joins Santos on loan from Man City

Manchester: Manchester City forward Robinho has joined Brazilian club Santos on a six-month loan.

The Brazil international will return to City on August 4 and his wages and bonuses will be paid by Santos during the loan.

City manager Roberto Mancini said Thursday that "Robinho is someone who needs to be playing regularly and we wish him well for the period of his loan."

Robinho reached stardom while playing for Brazilian club Santos, Pele's former club, before going to Spain in 2005.

Robinho left Real Madrid to join Premier League club City for a British-record fee of £32.5 million (euro40 million; US$58 million) in 2008.

After hitting 12 goals in his first 19 games for City, Robinho has scored one this season, at Scunthorpe on Sunday.