Brandao returns to Marseille

Brandao is expected to return to Marseille this week but a source close to the club told AFP that 'there are still a few judicial things to sort out'.

The 31-year-old had been loaned to Gremio until the end of December and could now feature in Marseille's home game with Lille next weekend.

Gremio said that Brandao's return was 'at the request of (Marseille coach) Didier Deschamps'.

However, the club source interviewed by AFP said that the striker could be sold to a Russian club before the closure of the Russian transfer window on 31 March.

Brandao joined OM from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2009 and was loaned to Brazilian club Cruzeiro after being placed under investigation for rape by a judge in Marseille on 9 March last year. He later joined Gremio, also on loan.

Brandao was released on bail but came face to face with his accuser during a court hearing in Marseille last October.

He was accused of rape by a 24-year-old woman who claimed that he attacked her in his car after offering to drive her home from a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, last March.