Marseille coach Didier Deschamps explained on Monday that the return of Brazilian forward Brandao to the club was the only short-term solution to improving his squad.
Brandao, 31, faces rape charges in France over an alleged incident that occurred in March last year.
He is due to return to Marseille this week after his loan spell with Brazilian side Gremio ended.
"Today it's the only solution that was feasible from a sporting and economic perspective, the only feasible short-term solution," said Deschamps.
Deschamps said it was "vital" to bring in a player because Marseille are losing four members of their squad -- Souleymane Diawara (Senegal), Charles Kabore (Burkina Faso) and Andre and Jordan Ayew (Ghana) -- to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Deschamps said that Brandao's return "solves a huge problem", and the burly target man could feature in the home game with Lille on Saturday.
Brandao joined OM from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2009 and was loaned to Brazilian club Cruzeiro after being placed under investigation for alleged rape by a judge in Marseille on March 9 last year. He later joined Gremio, also on loan.
He was released on bail but came face to face with his accuser during a court hearing in Marseille last October.
The 24-year-old woman claimed that Brandao attacked her in his car after offering to drive her home from a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, last March.
"I'm a coach. I rely on facts," said Deschamps. "He's someone who's free to play where he wants and it's not for me to act on behalf on justice.
"I'm not here to preach morality but everyone is free to think what they want about him coming back."
Source: AFP
