Washington leaves Sao Paulo, returns to Fluminense

35-year-old striker Washington left the Sao Paulo soccer team on Tuesday. The decision came just hours after the team presented Ricardo Oliveira as their newest offensive player.

Washington immediately had his agent, Gilmar Rinaldi, establish contact with Fluminense in order to negotiate his return. He is expected to arrive at Fluminense on Wednesday in order to undergo a routine physical exam and sign his contract.

The player marks his return to the team after nearly eight months with Sao Paulo. His decision to leave Fluminense in 2008 was in order to win the Libertadores Cup.

However, the veteran will not have the chance in 2010. Washington is no longer a member of Sao Paulo and will not travel with the team to face Internacional in Porto Alegre on Wednesday in the first leg of the semifinals of the Libertadores Cup.

With Fluminense in 2008, Washington failed to win the tournament in the finals, finishing in second place to Ecuador's LDU.

The return marks the reunion of head coach Muricy Ramalho with Washington. Ramalho was the former coach of Sao Paulo before coaching Palmeiras and now Fluminense.

Source: Xinhua