Brazilian international left-winger Zé Roberto has retired from international football and is set to return to German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich after a year playing for Brazilian side Santos FC.

32-year-old Zé Roberto - real name José Roberto da Silva Júnior - has just completed a one year stint with Santos FC, helping the Brazilian team to win the 2007 Campeonato Paulista trophy, but has now returned to Bayern, the club he moved to in 2002, and decided to hang-up his international boots.

Zé Roberto had been touted with a move to Italy's Serie A to join AS Roma, but decided to return to Bayern Munich and focus on club football.

"I think that my career with the Brazil national team is over," said Zé Roberto. "Now it's time for the next generation of younger players to get a chance."

But Bayern Munich's general manager Uli Hoeness expressed his interest in bringing the Seleção star back to Bayern, but that he must have to make club football his priority.

"We have agreed in principle to sign Zé Roberto on a two-year contract," Hoeness said earlier this week.

"But it is always difficult with a player who is slightly older if he is travelling across the Atlantic all the time.

"We’re under a huge amount of pressure next season, so we need full commitment to the club, especially from players of his calibre."

That statement was enough for Zé Roberto to end his international career with Brazil and to return to Germany, despite interest from other clubs.

The former Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Real Madrid star is expected to complete his transfer move in the next week.

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