Brazilian striker Brandao, who was charged with the rape of a woman in Aix-en-Provence earlier this year, appeared before a judge here in Marseille on Wednesday afternoon.
The 31-year-old belongs to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille, but was loaned to Cruzeiro in his homeland until the end of the year after being charged with rape.
However, he arrived back in France on Tuesday and was due to appear in front of judge Philippe Bergeron as well as the 24-year-old woman who he is accused of raping at a motorway stopover as he drove her home from a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence in March.
Brandao -- whose real name is Evaeverson Lemos da Silva -- is also expected to be assessed by "personality experts."
In a statement released by his lawyers on September 29, Brandao said that he "strongly wished" to be able to confront his accuser, who he added "not only consented to but also wanted" to have sex with him.
After being released on bail, Brandao had initially been told he could not leave French territory before being allowed to join Cruzeiro.
However, the player had said that he would continue to make himself available to return to France whenever called upon by the French justice system.
Source: AFP
