Brazilian authorities stall Real's attempt to land Robinho

"We are informing you that it is impossible for us to send the International Transfer Certificate for Santos player Robinho," the CBF general secretary Marco Antonio Teixeira wrote in a fax to the Spanish Football Federation. "Santos will not accept the transfer without full payment of the buy-out clause in the contract, which is legally binding under Brazilian law, and which is fixed at $50m (£28.4m)."

Last week, Real offered to pay Santos £17.65m, which equated to 60 per cent of the buy-out clause, in order to buy their share of Robinho's rights. The 21-year-old Brazil international waived the 40 per cent to which he was entitled.

"It's what we were expecting," Real's head of media and communications, Antonio Garcia Ferreras, said from Thailand, where the team are on tour. "But I'm convinced that the deal will go through."

Real cruised to a 3-0 win over the Thailand Under-23 team yesterday, ending an Asian tour reported to have netted them £14.2m. In front of more than 40,000 fans, Zinedine Zidane, from a penalty, Ronaldo and Ruben de la Red scored the goals that gave Real victory.

Seville's Julio Baptista ended his long-running transfer saga by signing for Real for around £14m last night, ending the hope of both Arsenal and Barcelona of signing him. The Brazilian striker has signed a five-year deal, putting Michael Owen's future in doubt.