Valencia abort deal for Brazilian defender

Valencia have aborted a move to sign Brazilian centre-back Rodrigo Caio, the Spanish club said.

Caio travelled to Valencia earlier this month to undergo a medical after his club Sao Paulo accepted a 12.5 million-euro offer for the 21-year-old, reported Xinhua news agency.

But he is expected to return to Brazil this week for reasons that were not explained by either club.

"(We) have decided not to proceed with the signing of the player Rodrigo Caio," Valencia said on their official website on Monday.

"This decision has been taken after considering all relevant issues."

Caio, capped by Brazil's under-20, under-21 and under-23 teams, was linked with a move to Atletico Madrid last year before suffering a serious knee injury.