Robinho not planning on leaving Milan

Posted Sunday, July 29, 2012 by ESPN

AC Milan forward Robinho has revealed he is keen on staying at the club despite interest from former club Santos.

The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the San Siro this summer, with Santos being one of the clubs reportedly interested in his services.

However, the player has insisted he still has plenty to offer the Rossoneri and is upbeat on their prospects of success despite losing both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to French Ligue 1 outfit Paris St-Germain.

My former club Santos have done much to bring me back to Brazil," he told Il Corriere dello Sport. "However, it is not time to return to Santos.

"I have a lot to give here in Milan. I scored 14 league goals in my first season here, then only six in the year after; I'm ready to go back to double digits now.

"The team will be different but no less strong. This is a great club and we will be competitive.

"There is still a long time left in the transfer window. This team is fresh from finishing first and then second in Serie A, and we will be strong."

Ibrahimovic's departure means the goalscoring burden will now shift to Alexandre Pato, a man Robinho believes deserves to be the spearhead of the Milan attack.

"I think he [Pato] deserves to be the main man," he added. "He has the opportunity to do well at the Olympics.

"I believe that he will score a lot of goals; he is a great striker. Pato is strong, young, fast and will have a great career."

Pato came extremely close to joining PSG in January but ultimately stayed on at the San Siro.