Pressure, demand and “time”: behind the scenes of the suspension of the agreement between Santos and Robinho | Saints

Exactly six days after announcing Robinho’s return for his fourth visit to Vila Belmiro, Santos announced on Friday that he has suspended the 36-year-old forward’s contract “so that the player can focus exclusively on his defense in the process.” that runs in Italy. ”

Behind a short official note, a lot of pressure, a request from the athlete himself and just a “break.”

Friday in Vila Belmiro was busy. The publication in the give of the report “The recordings of the Robinho case in the Italian court:” The woman was completely drunk “”, which revealed clips and excerpts of the process in which Robinho was convicted for the first time for sexual violence in Italy, fell like a bomb in Santos .

More about Robinho and Santos:
+ Defense manifests: “There was no sexual violence”
+ See the position of the club sponsors

Internally, the club, which was aware of the conviction, but did not know the details of the process, began to discuss Robinho’s future. Without face-to-face meetings, the leaders talked throughout the day to decide the best way forward.

Meanwhile, external pressure was building. On social media, fans responded to posts on Santos’s official profiles asking for Robinho’s contract termination. The Deliberative Council began to discuss the approval of the contract in a meeting to be held on the 21st of the month.

The advisers wondered: “Is it up to us to decide the future of the player?”

The sponsors, responsible for various sources of income for Santos, also began to collect from Robinho’s contract termination. The pressure then began to “hurt” in Peixe’s pocket, who, in a financial crisis, found himself against the wall in the face of threats.. Internally, the club did not see the “luxury” possibility of losing sponsors.

At the end of the afternoon, however, the player himself began looking for Santos to suggest the suspension of the contract. Not the termination. The Fish then met virtually to decide what to do and accepted Robinho’s suggestion.

President Orlando Rollo and members of the Management Committee participated in the decision to suspend Robinho’s contract. On social media, the player said he didn’t want to upset Santos.

– With great sadness in my heart, I come to tell you that I made the decision with the President to suspend my contract at this troubled moment in my life. My goal has always been to help Santos Futebol Clube. If I do get in the way in any way, I’d better get out there and focus on my personal stuff. For the Peixão fans and those who like me, I will prove my innocence – said Robinho.

The attacker’s contract will be suspended at least until the Milan Court of Appeal begins to analyze the case, in second instance, on December 10.. If found innocent, Robinho can return to Santos.

For now, Robinho’s shorter stint in Santos has ended. Before, he had been champion of Brazil (2002 and 2004), São Paulo (2010 and 2015) and Copa do Brasil (2010). Now, the forward had to settle for training at CT Rei Pelé and the expectation of proving his innocence to return to the club.