Robinho could find himself back at Manchester City this season after an alleged dispute over the payment of his wages.

The forward, currently on loan at Santos in his native Brazil, is in the middle of a row where no one is claiming responsibility over paying his weekly salary.

Robinho moved to Santos in January agreeing that the club would pay him his £160,000-a-week wages, which they had planned to finance through sponsorship.

However, Santos have failed to raise the required funds to pay the explosive striker, and could risk losing him.

Their failure to pay up could mean a return to Eastlands for the Brazil international, who has indicated he may return y paying the £2million rent on his Cheshire home until January 2011.

Although allegations that Robinho did not receive his salary for the first month of his loan to Santos have been denied, sources have claimed that the Brazilian outfit may have problems affording the forward in the future.

In order to raise the required funds to pay Robinho, Santos sign contracts with three sponsors, all of whom would be granted permission to use the player's likeness to market their products.

One of the deals has collapsed, while the other two, with Seara and Volkswagen, are yet to be concluded.

With attendances of just 10,000 and gate earnings totaling up to just £60,000 per game, Santos cannot afford to keep Robinho without the help from sponsors.

Meanwhile, Robinho has been a hit with his current club, having scored four goals in five games, and could be on his way to the World Cup with Brazil.