Robinho has reaffirmed his desire to extend his loan stay at Santos after helping the club win the Sao Paulo state championship.
The Manchester City outcast is due back at Eastlands on August 4, but both he and the Brazilian side are keen to strike an extension until at least the end of the year.
Santos, whose exciting team dominated the league stage of the 'Paulista' championship, clinched the title on Sunday night despite losing the second leg of the final 3-2 against Santo Andre and ending the match with eight men.
A 5-5 aggregate result was enough because they topped the table and Robinho said: 'I'm very happy. This is an important title for me that I didn't have before.
'I found happiness on the pitch here with a wonderful team that plays attacking, with a smile. It's great to be part of this team and thank God that the work was crowned.
'Let me stay here quietly, it's good. I hope this can be just the first conquest of my return.'
The 26-year-old recently proclaimed this Santos crop were the best team he had played in - better than the Real Madrid of Zinedine Zidane, Raul and David Beckham with which he won the Spanish League.
Robinho has been overshadowed by brilliant 18-year-old forward Neymar, who scored both his side's goals on Sunday to take his tally for the year to 23 in 22 appearances.
Pele has led growing calls for Neymar to go to the World Cup and City must now decide whether to take up their preferential option on the starlet, though Santos insist they will not do a deal for less than his £26million release clause.
City also have first refusal on midfield playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, who was man of the match against Santo Andre, for the duration of Robinho's loan.
Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro said: 'I want them (Robinho, Neymar and Ganso) to continue wearing the shirt of Santos.
'Robinho is guaranteed until at least August 4. The others will stay till the end of next year. Of course, that doesn't depend only on me.'
Neymar had previously shunned talk of a transfer but admitted in the run-up to the match: 'I don't know if I'm ready for Europe, but I'm trying to prepare myself.
'First, I have to think about Santos, this is where I play, I want to be a champion and then maybe think about Europe.'
dailymail.co.uk
I really hope this little prick does stay in Brazil, he's not as good as he think's he is. He failed in Madrid and he's a failure in Manchester, so no worries robbie you stay in Brazil where you can do fuck all and take all the credit. And as for your comments about this Santos team being better that the Madrid team you played in don't make me laugh.
Just tell Santos to transfer the £25mill transfer fee and were done.
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