Editing Robinho (section)

===Santos===
Robinho was born in [[São Vicente, São Paulo|São Vicente, São Paulo State]]. In his early years, Robinho played a lot of [[futsal]] which was responsible for developing his dribbling and acceleration skills.<ref>Futsalfeed.com (14 March 2020). "[https://futsalfeed.com/original-content/top-10-footballers-who-played-futsal Top 10 Footballers Who Played Futsal!]", "futsalfeed.com". Retrieved 14 March 2020.</ref> He signed his first professional contract with [[Santos FC|Santos]] in 2002 at the age of 18. He made 24 appearances in his debut season and scored one goal as Santos won the 2002 [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Campeonato Brasileiro]]. He reached the final of the 2003 [[Copa Libertadores]] with Santos, but lost in the final to [[Boca Juniors]]. In 2004, Robinho finished with 21 goals in 37 games and led Santos to win another [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Campeonato Brasileiro]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

His form had brought him to the attention of many European clubs in the summer of 2004, but Robinho remained with Santos after the Brazilian club rejected all offers. His form suffered in the 2005 season, however, after his mother, Marina da Silva Souza, was kidnapped by gunmen at her [[Praia Grande]] home on 6 November; she was released unharmed six weeks later after a ransom was paid.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/brazil/story/0,,1347504,00.html Footballer's plea for kidnapped mother] ''The Guardian''</ref>

Robinho scored nine goals in 12 league games, and his value continued to increase as his talent became more and more apparent to the powers of European football. Santos began to realise it would become increasingly difficult to hold on to their star player. In July 2005, Spanish giants [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] signed Robinho by agreeing to pay a fee equal to 60% of the buyout clause in his contract belonging to Santos (€24&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1179493,prtpage-1.cms |title=Real add Robinho to their galaxy |access-date=28 January 2008 |newspaper=The Times of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113012830/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1179493,prtpage-1.cms |archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref>