RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Mineiro are reportedly close to signing Brazil international forward Robinho.

But the Belo Horizonte-based club faces competition from Robinho's former club Santos, Brazilian news portal Globoesporte reported.

The 32-year-old is a free agent after ending a six-month spell with China's Guangzhou Evergrande in December.

Robinho began his career at Santos and has since returned for two more spells, the most recent of which ended last June.

He has been capped 101 times for Brazil since his international debut in 2002, scoring 30 goals.