Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho is returning home to his former club Santos immediately on a six-month loan deal.
Robinho joined the big-spending City in 2008 for a British record transfer fee of 32.5 million pounds from Real Madrid but has struggled to hold down a first team place.
The player, who left Santos for Real Madrid in 2005, won the Confederations Cup with Brazil last year but had feared a lack of first team action could jeopardise his World Cup hopes.
Robinho struggled to make an impression at City under former manager Mark Hughes but Italian Mancini, who joined the club in December, had said he was keen for him to stay.
Robinho is expected to earn substantially lower wages at the Brazilian club.
