Robinho de Souza Junior has begun his Italian chapter with the kind of afternoon that invites an immediate family comparison. On 20 September 2026, 4,631 days after his father Robinho scored his final goal in Italy for Milan, the 18-year-old struck twice as Genoa Primavera beat Atalanta.
Key takeaways
- Robinho Jr scored his first goals in Italy for Genoa’s Primavera side against Atalanta.
- Genoa have taken the Brazilian forward on loan from Santos, with an option to buy worth €8 million.
- The agreement also includes up to €2 million in bonuses linked to senior or Under-20 international call-ups for Brazil or Italy.
- The left-footed attacker could be eligible for Italy through his mother, Vivian Guglielmetti, who has Italian roots.
- He is currently working under Genoa Primavera coach Mimmo Criscito while attention grows around a possible first-team opportunity.
A familiar name, a different left foot
The goals against Atalanta carried the marks of a forward comfortable in the decisive moment. For the first, Robinho Jr went around the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into an empty net. His second came after he slipped the ball through a defender’s legs and placed a delicate left-footed finish into the far corner.
There is an obvious visual and technical link with his father, the former Brazil and Milan attacker. Both have made their name through acceleration, feints and an instinct to take opponents on. Yet there is one clear distinction: Robinho Sr was predominantly right-footed, while his son operates principally from the left.
The comparison also has a precise Italian date behind it. On 15 January 2014, Robinho Sr scored in Milan’s 3-1 Coppa Italia last-16 win over Spezia, his last goal on Italian soil. More than a decade later, his son has arrived in Liguria with the prospect of writing his own version of that story.
Born on 17 December 2007, Robinho Jr began at Santos, just as his father had done. He progressed through the club’s academy and reached the senior side, making his first-team debut against Flamengo on 17 July 2025. His close control and willingness to run at defenders soon drew attention from clubs across Europe, including in Italy.
Genoa’s patient investment
The move to Genoa was agreed during the summer, with Santos sending the player on loan and the Rossoblù securing the right to make the deal permanent for €8 million. Santos would also be due €2 million in add-ons should Robinho Jr receive an Under-20 or senior call-up from either Brazil or Italy, while retaining a 10 per cent share of any future sale.
His Italian background adds another layer to the decision. Through his mother, he may have a route towards representing Italy, although he has also developed within the Brazilian game and remains eligible for Brazil.
Before leaving Santos, the teenager had already shown that he would not disappear quietly inside a senior dressing room. In May, a confrontation with Neymar, his idol and Santos teammate, followed a dribble by Robinho Jr that was viewed as overly provocative. The dispute escalated into insults and pushing, with the youngster subsequently lodging a complaint and reportedly considering a contract termination. Robinho Sr, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for sexual violence, reacted from prison. Public apologies later brought the matter to a close.
At Genoa, the immediate plan has been to introduce him through Criscito’s Primavera group rather than rush him into the senior squad. But two goals against Atalanta have ensured that the interest will only increase. Genoa have acquired a player at the beginning of his European journey; the coming months will determine whether his next comparisons with his father are made on Serie A pitches.
