LONDON (REUTERS) - Former Brazil international right-back Maicon has left Manchester City for a permanent move to Italian Serie A side AS Roma, the English Premier League football club confirmed on Thursday.

Maicon, 31, who played 66 times for Brazil between 2003 and 2011, joined City from Inter Milan for 3 million pounds (S$5.7 million) a year ago, but made only 13 appearances in all competitions during his solitary season at the Etihad Stadium.

The club said on their website (www.mcfc.co.uk): "With Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards seemingly ahead of him in the battle for the right-back role, (he) has opted to return to Serie A to continue his career."