Robinho has Santos contract suspended, days after rejoining the club

Robinho had returned to the club only last week

Former Manchester City and Real Madrid player Robinho has had his newly-signed contract with Santos suspended, a statement from the Brazilian club has announced. Santos had announced the 36-year-old's return for a fourth stint at the club only last week, but a statement released on Friday confirmed the suspension of his contract. News that Robinho had rejoined Santos sparked outrage in Brazil due to his involvement in an ongoing rape case. In 2017, the former Brazil international was sentenced to nine years in prison by an Italian court for his involvement in the gang rape of a 22-year-old woman at a nightclub in 2013. Robinho has appealed against the ruling and the case is continuing. Earlier in the week, Brazilian orthodontics company Orthopride announced it had ended its sponsorship deal with Santos "out of respect for women", making it clear the decision to bring Robinho back to the club had not been communicated with them. A day later, the statement confirming the player's departure arrived. 'Santos and Robinho have by mutual agreement resolved to suspend the contract signed on 10 October so that player can concentrate exclusively on his court defence in Italy,' it explained. Robinho had started his career with the Sao Paulo-based club, leaving them for Real Madrid in 2005. He later returned for loan spells from Manchester City and AC Milan in 2010 and 2015. He had been a free agent prior to signing the five-month deal with his boyhood call last week, offering to play for them for wages which equated to little more than the current minimum wage in Brazil.