Barcelona have joined the race to sign Brazilian starlet Robinho, although the Santos player still seems destined for a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Barca are to send a representative to watch Brazil’s next game, against Uruguay in Montevideo, to monitor the performance of the 23-year-old.

“I am happy to know that a very important team like Barcelona are interested in me but, to be honest, I can’t think about that too much at the moment because I am concentrating on the match that Brazil have to play against Uruguay,” Robinho told Don Balon.

“Barcelona are a very well liked club in Brazil due to the success of our players like Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho,” he added.

“I think that Spain is the ideal country for me but only God knows which club I will play for.

“Real Madrid are a great club and any football player would want to play there but I also have my ambitions with Santos.

“Only God knows what will happen and I hope to continue doing well here.

“I am leaving everything in the hands of my father and my agent and they will sort out what happens.

“If I had to leave Santos, then it will be important that I join a club that regularly wins trophies. There would be no point in joining a team if they were only going to pay me a lot of money, but were unable to let me play at the highest level or with the national team.

“I am still young and have my whole career ahead of me. That is why, if I had to leave, it would be to join a really good team.

“[Real coach] Wanderley [Luxemburgo] is a coach that I know well and who likes the way I play.

“It would be very good to work with him again.

“Luxemburgo is a very, very good trainer. He finds it very easy to lift players.

“It is difficult to feel negative with him because he is so good at the psychological side of things.”