Al Sadd striker Leandro returns to Gamba Osaka on loan

18-Jun-2012 10:05:00 AM

The one-year loan marks a dramatic turn of events for the 27-year-old attacker, who the J-League side sold to the Qatari club in the summer of 2009 for nearly €6 million

J-League side Gamba Osaka announced on Monday the return of Brazilian striker Leandro on loan from Qatari club Al Sadd.

Leandro last played for Gamba in the 2009 season, when he scored 11 goals in 21 appearances before being sold to Al Sadd for €5.8 million that summer.

After rising to second place in the 2009-10 Qatar Stars League with 20 goals, the 27-year-old saw his playing time decrease significantly in the past two seasons. This winter Leandro was loaned to Al Rayyan, where he scored four goals in four appearances.

The move appears engineered to lift the Kansai outfit out of the relegation zone, where they have remained for most of the season thus far. Gamba have not won in any competition since April 22 and are currently six points from safety.

Financial terms of the detail are yet to be revealed, but the one-year loan reportedly has a buyout option attached. Leandro could make his J-League comeback as early as July 7, when Gamba travel to FC Tokyo.

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