Real Betis have signed Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Damiao, 26, has a chance to get his career back on track in Spain after having struggled for form through recent seasons while playing for Brazilian clubs Internacional, Santos and Cruzeiro.
Damiao left Santos after claiming he was owed salaries. The player took his fight to the courts but eventually reached a deal to be released by the club.
�� OFFICIAL | Real Betis signs striker Leandro Damiaohttps://t.co/wWJRia8bss pic.twitter.com/IHDTUsGjAQ
- Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) February 4, 2016
News of the transfer to Betis was confirmed in a statement on the Seville-based club's website, which read: "Real Betis Balompie has signed Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao.
"The player will stay in the Green-and-White Club until June 30, 2016. Leandro Damiao da Silva dos Santos played at professional level at Internacional, Santos FC and Cruzeiro EC. He played 267 matches at top level and has scored 118 goals.
"He has played 17 times for Brazil's senior team, scoring three goals. He has won several titles, such as one Copa Libertadores, one Recopa Sudamericana and the silver medal at the Olympic Games London 2010 with Brazil."
Damiao is Betis' third recent signing, after young attacker Charly Musonda Jr. and right-back Martin Montoya, who arrived in the January transfer window on loan from Chelsea and Barcelona respectively.
The trio could all make their Betis debuts in Sunday's home game against a Valencia side also struggling for form under coach Gary Neville.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
