Vasco da Gama said on Thursday they hoped to find their way around a FIFA ruling and bring back 40-year-old striker Romario for a fourth stint at the club.

Romario has already played for two clubs -- Miami [Images] FC in the United States and Adelaide United in Australia [Images] -- since July and FIFA rules prevent him from playing for a third team until the end of June.

"We're trying to find a solution as quickly as possible," Vasco's legal vice-president Paulo Reis told Brazilian media.

"We've found a path to follow but we're not going to say what it is. I've no doubt that we're going to find a solution to the problem."

Romario claims to have scored 987 goals in his career. His most recent spell with Vasco ended last March when he left the club to sign for Miami FC, who play in the United Soccer Leagues rather than the more prestigious Major League Soccer.

He then played four games for Adelaide United.

Romario is facing an increasingly tough battle to score his 1,000th goal before retiring. He managed 20 goals in 27 matches for Miami but added just one to his tally in four outings with Adelaide.

"There are 13 goals to go and it's getting more and more difficult to score," he said earlier this week.

His biggest hope would be to play for Vasco in the season-opening Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship, in which his side face a series of matches against modest opponents.

The Brazilian championship, which starts in April, is a much tougher proposition.

The Brazilian media have long questioned Romario's total, however, saying it includes goals from youth team matches, and training games.

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