RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international forward Rafael Sobis has returned to his original club Internacional for the 2019 season, the Porto Alegre club said on Saturday.

The 33-year-old, who has been capped eight times for Brazil, signed a 12-month contract with Internacional a day after parting ways with their Brazilian rivals Cruzeiro.

"Rafael Sobis is back at the Beira-Rio [stadium]," Internacional said in a statement on the club's official website.

The former Real Betis player began his professional career at Inter in 2004, scoring 40 goals in 131 matches over three seasons before joining Spain's Real Betis.

He returned for a brief loan spell in 2010 and 2011, netting eight times in 36 games.

Internacional finished third in the 2018 Brazilian Serie A standings, 11 points behind champions Palmeiras.