Robihno

Magic, surprise, art, and quality: Top class football. Step overs, interceptions, goals, assistances… It’s Robson de Souza, Robinho, the new pearl (at only 21 years of age) of Real Madrid, and who in his own country is already being compared to Pelé. Audacity or reality, what is for sure is that this forward leads the arrival of a new generation of Brazilian forwards. Despite his youth, he triumphed at Santos, and also managed to open the doors to the ultimate team. Now he wants to conquer Europe, and to make his dreams a reality he has chosen the Madrid squad.

At the age of six, he demonstrated an ability far beyond his years and in 1993, at the age of nine, he scored 73 goals in indoor football, with thePortuarios, a team which was proclaimed vice-champions of Sao Paulo. “There are footballers who are born with a gift for football and God gave it to Robinho”. The words of Betinho, the footballing father of the new Madrid player, in an interview with the footballing paper AS. His step-overs and his dribbling brought him the attention of the big Brazilian clubs and ended up signed for Santos. He joined the lower level of this club, in which que Pelé, Pepe, Dorsal, Mengalvio, Coutinho… were launched to fame in the sixties. Wearing the white shirt of Santos he got his first accolade when he was proclaimed Under-17 Sao Paulo champion.

His happy character (he’s always playing jokes on his firends) and his artistic manner in which he plays his football has captivated everyonne, including Pelé. Moment after meeting a Robinho O’ Rei said: “This lad will bring us a load of pleasure”. The declaration was not for nothing. He was climbing high and the Santos first team opened its doors to him. With them, the new signing for Real Madrid, joining in 2005, won the Brazilian Championship.

After graduating with Santos he won the right to wear the ultimate green and yellow shirt, where he shared a dressing room with his friend Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo (he’s his role-model), Emerson, Ronaldinho, Kaká… All of Europe turned their heads to look at the new genius, which led to siren calls from England, Spain… but his heart chose and he chose the White.