Robinho will have to earn his place at Real

Brazilian striker Robinho will not walk straight into the Real Madrid first team when he completes his move to the Spanish giants at the end of next week, says coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

The 21-year-old international, who has signed for Real in a $30 million deal after lengthy transfer negotiations with Santos, is scheduled to arrive in the Spanish capital on Thursday while his new side open their season with a league match against promoted Cadiz on August 28.

"Robinho will have to fight for his place here, like (fellow new signing Julio) Baptista," Luxemburgo told Spanish sports daily Marca on Saturday.

"Julio is starting to play because he arrived earlier and has done a full pre-season. Robinho is going to arrive later and it will be Baptista who will start playing."

"There is a lot of competition here and Robinho isn't going to arrive on the 25th (of August) and go straight into the starting line-up. He will have to take it step by step. He has to fit into our style of play and philosophy first."

Robinho is likely to be competing with Baptista, club captain Raul, Ronaldo and Michael Owen for a place in the Real first team.