Inter monitoring Robinho Jr, son of former Milan & Man City forward

Inter are reportedly tracking Robinho Jr, the teenage forward at Santos and son of former Milan, Manchester City and Real Madrid attacker Robinho.

According to Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte, via CalcioMercato, the Nerazzurri have identified the 18-year-old as a potential long-term investment and have already begun laying the groundwork behind the scenes.

Journalist Lucas Musetti claims Inter have earmarked a budget of around €22 million, bonuses included, to pursue the highly-rated attacker, even though no formal bid has yet been submitted to Santos.

The same report suggests Robinho Jr has already travelled to Italy during the Christmas period, using the trip to visit Inter’s facilities. While the visit is not understood to be linked to an imminent transfer, it underlines the seriousness of Inter’s interest and the exploratory phase of the talks.

Despite the growing attention from Europe, Robinho Jr’s current preference would be to remain with Santos until at least the end of the season.

The youngster is keen to continue his development in Brazil before making the leap abroad, though sources indicate that discussions could resume should there be openness from the player, his family and his representatives.

Inter’s recruitment strategy in recent years has increasingly blended established stars with carefully selected young profiles.

Robinho Jr, who has started to attract significant attention at youth and senior levels, fits that model, one Inter appear ready to pursue if the conditions align in the coming months.