Roberto Carlos signs deal with Corinthians

Former Real Madrid and Brazil team mates Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos will play together again for Corinthians next year after the defender said on Tuesday he had signed for the Sao Paulo-based club.

Roberto Carlos said he had signed a two-year deal with Corinthians from next year after he completes his contract with Fenerbahce in Turkey on Dec. 20, returning to Brazil before Christmas after 15 years away.

"I'm anxious to get to Corinthians, put their shirt on, feel the support of the fans and make history alongside Ronaldo," the 33-year-old left back told Radio Record.

He spent the better part of his career at Real Madrid, from 1996 to 2007, where Ronaldo also spent nearly four and a half years. The defender, who had joined Real from Inter Milan, is now in his third season in Turkey.

Corinthians are reinforcing their team for a push at the Libertadores Cup, South America's equivalent of the European Champions League, in their centenary year in 2010. They have yet to win the trophy.

"Corinthians are a club who are investing, they want to be Libertadores champions next year, they're a club building confidence to become champions," Roberto Carlos said. "I'm proud to be able to play in the same team as him (Ronaldo) again."

Roberto Carlos teamed up with Ronaldo to help Brazil win their fifth World Cup in Asia in 2002 but has not played for his country since their quarter-final defeat by France in Germany in 2006.

Corinthians, who qualified for next year's Libertadores Cup by winning the Copa Brasil in June, have also been keen to sign former Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, an experienced Libertadores campaigner with Boca Juniors.