Rio De Janeiro, Jan 9 : Sao Paulo have signed Chile international defender Eugenio Mena on loan from Cruzeiro, the Brazilian club said on Friday.

The agreement includes an option to secure the 27-year-old on a permanent deal at the end of the loan period in December, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mena said the appointment of Argentine Edgardo Bauza as Sao Paulo coach last month had influenced his decision to join the six-time Brazilian league champions.

"He will help me a lot in terms of adaption," Mena said during a press conference, adding that his native Spanish would benefit the team during this year's Copa Libertadores.

"Most of the referees speak Spanish in the Copa Libertadores and the rival teams too. I think that will be important when we're out on the pitch."

Mena, who was a member of the Chile squad that won last year's Copa America, is contracted to Cruzeiro until 2018.