Real Betis striker Ricardo Oliveira is to join Sao Paulo on loan in a bid to force his way in to Brazil's World Cup finals squad.

Oliveira's season looked to be over when he suffered a serious knee ligament injury during Betis' Champions League victory against Chelsea in November.

He has made a quicker than expected recovery, but Betis' decision not to register him for the second half of the campaign means he is unable to play in Primera Liga.

With the European transfer window closed a return to his homeland was Oliveira's only chance of playing again this term and he jumped at the chance to join Sao Paulo, as it has given him an unexpected chance to impress Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

"This is my last chance to demonstrate to Parreira that I can be in his squad for the World Cup," he said. "It is a real personal challenge for me."

Oliveira will return to Real Betis at the start of next season.