RIO DE JANEIRO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Brazil international defender Dede has had his seven million US-dollar move from Vasco da Gama to Cruzeiro blocked by the country's treasury department.

Rio de Janeiro's football federation (Ferj) confirmed in a statement on Friday that the transfer had been suspended due to Vasco's 25 million US-dollar tax debt.

"Ferj has received notice of a judicial decision that impedes the transfer of Dede," the statement said.

News of the injunction came just hours after Dede, 24, appeared at a press conference confirming his arrival at the Belo Horizonte club.

According to Brazilian sports newspaper Lance, the situation is compounded by the fact Cruzeiro have already paid for the deal.

Vasco is understood to have used the money this week to pay a percentage of the club's outstanding player salaries.

It is the latest in a series of embarrassing episodes involving the debt-stricken Rio de Janeiro club.

Vasco's failure to pay wages on time prompted the summer departures of former Brazil star Juninho, goalkeeper Fernando Prass and midfielder Nilton.

In January Vasco's financial director Nelson Rocha revealed that the club's net debt had spiralled to 125 million US dollars.