On 2 January 2013, he signed a one-year contract with Santos FC.[4]
On 24 December 2013, Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande announced that they had signed Renê on a four-year contract.[5] According to Brazilian media, the transfer fee was 3.2 million Brazilian real (1 million Euro).[6] On 8 March 2014, Renê made his debut for Guangzhou in the first league match of the season against Henan Jianye. He scored his first goal in China in the second half, which ensured Guangzhou win the match 3–0.[7] In March 2016 it was announced that Renê's contract with the club had been terminated and he would leave as a free agent.[8]