Manchester United and Liverpool monitor Robinho Jr after striker locks in renewal with Santos

The future of Robinho Jr at Santos became one of the most talked about topics in the international football market after the player refused the first attempts to renew his contract. The young 18-year-old striker, considered one of the main promises of the black and white base, attracts direct interest from Premier League giants such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. The athlete’s contractual situation raised an alert in the Santos board, which is observing the European movement while trying to convince the player’s staff about maintaining the sports project at Vila Belmiro.

The lack of minutes on the field under the command of coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda is the main obstacle to the permanence of Menino from Vila, who has not played since the end of January. The athlete was again on the bench during the 6-0 defeat of Velo Clube, valid for Campeonato Paulista, which increased the discontent of his representatives. According to behind-the-scenes information, the number 7’s family conditions the signing of a new contract to greater use in the professional team, aiming at the young man’s technical development.

• Robinho Jr’s current bond with Santos is valid until April 2027.
• The termination fine for clubs abroad is set at 100 million euros.
• Three English clubs are preparing surveys for the mid-year transfer window.
• The player has played just six matches this season and has yet to find the net.

Interest from Premier League and European surveys

The monitoring of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea reflects English football’s constant search for maturing South American talent. Olheiros from the three teams have been following the performance of Embora no official proposal has been presented so far, the expectation is that the clubs will formalize their interest in the next transfer window, taking advantage of the instability in the renewal.

In addition to the British trio, other traditional teams from the European continent have already shown interest in the striker in previous periods, such as Galatasaray and Inter of Milão. Essas initial surveys did not evolve into concrete negotiations due to the high value of the termination fine, which is around R$620 million at the current price. Santos uses this amount as legal and financial protection, although it recognizes that the current scenario of low minutes may reduce bargaining power in future negotiations.

Contractual impasse and pre-contract risk

The Peixe board finds itself in a delicate position, as time plays against the maintenance of the asset if an agreement is not sealed in the coming months. Caso the renewal remains blocked, Robinho Jr will be able to sign a pre-contract with any other team from October 2026, leaving free of charge at the end of the contract. Este scenario is what most worries Santos managers, who seek to avoid losing a promise from the base without the due financial compensation that the club projects.

The player’s representatives argue that the stagnation in his career within the São Paulo club justifies the search for new areas where he can continue playing. The staff believes that the striker’s potential is compatible with European football and that a transfer to Inglaterra would be a natural step for his evolution. On the other hand, the club insists that the youth transition process must be respected, ensuring that space in the first team will arise according to performance in training under the supervision of Vojvoda.

Details of the termination fine and market values

The value of 100 million euros established in the current contract is seen by market analysts as a figure outside of current reality for a player who is still looking to establish himself among the first team. Mesmo with the high financial power of the Premier League clubs, it is unlikely that an offer will reach the fine ceiling without the athlete presenting significant numbers during the season. The Santos strategy, therefore, focuses on valuing the player internally so that, in the event of a sale, the values ​​are close to the biggest transactions in the club’s history.

The black and white leadership rules out any possibility of an immediate exit at the beginning of the year, prioritizing the dispute in the final stages of the state championship and the start of national competitions. The idea is to use the first semester to gradually reintegrate Robinho Jr into the tactical scheme, trying to cool tempers and resume salary conversations. The football market will remain attentive to the next steps, since the middle of the year is usually the period of greatest investment by European powers in search of strategic reinforcements.

Technical performance in the current season

The numbers of Robinho Jr in 2026 show a timid participation, directly influenced by the tactical choices of the coaching staff in recent weeks. With just six games played, the striker is still looking for his first goal of the year, a fact that generates external pressure from fans who want to see more young players from the academy on the field. The last time the number 7 was on the pitch was in the defeat to Chapecoense, on January 28th, highlighting the long period of competitive inactivity that has bothered his staff.

1. Participation in six official matches during the first quarter.
2. Lack of goals and assists during the period of use.
3. Loss of space for more experienced reinforcements hired by the club.
4. Continuous training with the main squad without being used in games.

The coaching staff’s perspective on the attacker

Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda maintains a cautious stance when talking about the use of young promises, prioritizing the team’s collective balance at this point in the season. The technical committee assesses that Robinho Jr has important physical skills, but still needs tactical adjustments to fulfill the defensive functions required in the current scheme. Essa exigência técnica é apontada internamente como o motivo real para a diminuição de suas oportunidades, e não questões extracampo relacionadas à renovação de contrato.

Despite the pressure from English polls, the technical command emphasizes that the planning for the athlete is long-term, aiming to transform him into a key player for the Campeonato Brasileiro. The dialogue between Vojvoda and the football board is constant, seeking to align the needs of the field with the financial interests of the institution. The Argentine coach is known for giving young people chances, but he values ​​meritocracy in daily training, which requires the attacker to double his focus to regain his place in the squad.

External pressure and reactions from Santos fans

The Santos fans, historically linked to the revelation of talents, express divided opinions on social media about the case involving the young number 7. The situation takes on urgency due to the recent history of other Brazilian clubs that lost talent abroad for lower than expected values ​​due to similar contractual imbroglios.

Constant monitoring by clubs of the caliber of Manchester United and Liverpool puts Santos in a global showcase, but also increases management’s responsibility to protect its interests. The media exposure of the case can accelerate a definition, whether through renewal with salary increase or by defining a sales value that satisfies all parties involved. Até there, the future of Robinho Jr remains one of the great unknowns in Brazilian football this season, awaiting the next chapter of the transfer window.