[3] After being released in June 2005, João Paulo had an unassuming stint with Spanish Segunda División club CD Tenerife,[4] then returned to Portugal in January of the following year with F.C.
Leiria (eight goals in the league and two in the UEFA Cup, both against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, on home and away legs).
[5][6][7] João Paulo moved to Romanian club FC Rapid București in January 2008, while Leiria would eventually rank last at the season's end in Portugal.
[3] Later that month but two years later, after failing to score more than three times in spite of being regularly played, he returned to his country and joined top-tier strugglers Leixões S.C. until the end of the campaign.
[8] In June 2010, following Leixões' relegation, João Paulo returned abroad, signing with Olympiakos Nicosia of Cyprus.