Samba star to invest in Brazil

The Real Madrid star intends to buy Uniao Sao Joao, who play in the Brazilian Second Division - the club where he began his career as a 16-year-old.

The 30-year-old moved from Uniao to Palmeiras before switching to Real Madrid, via a short spell at Internazionale in the mid-nineties.

Club president Jose Mario Pavan has been thinking about selling the club to try and pay off some of the mounting debts.

And now their former star wants to plough some money back into the club where he first showed his class.

"Already I have arrived to talk with Pavan. It wouldn't be an investment but repayment to Uniao - a club that provided everything that I have in my life," he said. 

Pavan has confessed that he is finding it difficult to manage the club with the current funds. He has valued the club at around $12 million.