"I am very thankful with Santos, where I won two Brazilian titles, for what it did for me. I would have liked a lot to have reached the Copa Libertadores final, but that was not possible. Now we have to see the future," said Robinho while in Frankfurt (Germany) where the Brazilian national team Wednesday won the Confederations Cup 4-1 over Argentina.

Robinho asked the fans of Santos to understand his decision to play in Europe, as he is thinking on personal security factors and his dream to play in the best soccer of the world.

He also said he wants to play in Real because in Spain there is soccer that is "very similar" to that of Brazil, and because the Spanish club has as its coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who last year led Santos to win the national league.

Santos and Real Madrid do not agree on the amount to pay for the transfer of the 21-year-old player, because the Brazilian club wants 50 million dollars, and the Madrid club is to pay half of that amount.

Nevertheless, Uruguayan Juan Figer, one of the representatives of the player, said in remarks published Thursday by an Italian club that "Robinho is of Real Madrid" and his transfer will be made effective Monday.