Off the wire
• British, US foreign policy heads discuss Ukraine, IS in London  • U.S. astronauts lay cable outside space station in 1st of three spacewalks  • Syrian troops evacuate 30 families from eastern Damascus  • Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Feb. 21  • Yemeni outgoing president rejects Houthi takeover of power  • German minister says Rwanda's economic outlook attractive  • 6 killed in fresh mortar attack in Syria's Aleppo  • Bahrain cracks down on rampant cyber crime cases  • Nigeria flushes Boko Haram terrorists out of northeast Baga town  • News Analysis: Greece wins time with Eurogroup deal, more tough challenges ahead  
You are here: 　 Home

Former Japan midfielder joins Brazilian fourth-tier club

Xinhua, February 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Japan international midfielder Alex dos Santos has signed for Brazilian fourth division outfit Maringa, the club announced on Saturday.

The Brazilian-born 37-year-old joined his original team from Japanese second-tier club FC Gifu for an undisclosed fee.

In a statement on its official Facebook page, Maringa said Alex would be presented to fans at the club's Willie Davids stadium on Sunday.

Alex, who represented the Blue Samurai at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, said he was anxious to play again in his homeland after relocating to Japan as a teenager in 1994.

"I spent 21 years away. It's going to take time to adapt but my desire to do well will accelerate the process," he told Globoesporte. "I hope I can adapt as quickly as possible to help the team."

Alex, capped 82 times for Japan, is expected to make his debut for Maringa in the Parana state league next week. Endi