He served two loans in the lower leagues and only made three first-team appearances, the first coming on 15 April 2006 in the dying stages of the season, at Rio Ave FC: the Students won 4–1, and he scored as a starter.
[2] In the summer of 2008, Rui Miguel moved abroad after signing with Bulgarian club PFC Lokomotiv Mezdra, netting three goals in the first half of the campaign.
In January 2009, he changed teams again but stayed in the country, joining PFC CSKA Sofia alongside his teammate and compatriot David Silva.
[3] He scored his first goals in his second match, netting twice against PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv for a final 3–1 victory and adding another in his third appearance, against FC Spartak Varna (2–0).
[6] On 17 June 2011, Rui Miguel returned to Académica who were still in the Primeira Liga, joining on a free transfer[7] and contributing two appearances as the club won the Taça de Portugal for the first time in 73 years.