Real Betis have agreed to loan out striker Ricardo Oliveira in order to help his bid to play at this summer's World Cup finals.
The Brazil international will join Sao Paulo to get some valuable playing time under his belt ahead of the showpiece in Germany.
Oliveira looked like missing out on the finals altogether after tearing cruciate and lateral knee ligaments in a UEFA Champions League game with Chelsea earlier in the season.
However, he has made a quicker than expected recovery from the injury and is now ready to resume competitive action.
Betis did not register the striker for the second half of the season because of his injury and have thus agreed to a loan deal to help the player regain match fitness.
With the European transfer window closed, a switch back to his native brazil was Oliveira's only option but there was no lack of interest in his services.
Santos and Flamengo both wanted the 25-year-old, but ultimately it was Sao Paulo - with whom he has been training in recent months - who sealed his signature.
Oliveira - who will return to Betis for next season - is delighted with his opportunity and is hoping to do enough to convince Brazil boss Carlos Alberto Parreira he is worthy of a place in his World Cup.
"This is my last chance to demonstrate to Parreira that I can be in his squad for the World Cup," he stated.
"It is a real personal challenge for me."
The Brazil international will join Sao Paulo to get some valuable playing time under his belt ahead of the showpiece in Germany.
Oliveira looked like missing out on the finals altogether after tearing cruciate and lateral knee ligaments in a UEFA Champions League game with Chelsea earlier in the season.
However, he has made a quicker than expected recovery from the injury and is now ready to resume competitive action.
Betis did not register the striker for the second half of the season because of his injury and have thus agreed to a loan deal to help the player regain match fitness.
With the European transfer window closed, a switch back to his native brazil was Oliveira's only option but there was no lack of interest in his services.
Santos and Flamengo both wanted the 25-year-old, but ultimately it was Sao Paulo - with whom he has been training in recent months - who sealed his signature.
Oliveira - who will return to Betis for next season - is delighted with his opportunity and is hoping to do enough to convince Brazil boss Carlos Alberto Parreira he is worthy of a place in his World Cup.
"This is my last chance to demonstrate to Parreira that I can be in his squad for the World Cup," he stated.
"It is a real personal challenge for me."
