Mohun Bagan's Brazilian footballer Jose Ramirez Barreto, who experienced a harrowing time before flying home, returned from Sao Paulo on Monday.

The Brazilian, whose passport was confiscated by the Kolkata Customs for allegedly carrying unauthorised foreign exchange, spent about six weeks with his family before returning to the city.

Now, the striker wants to erase those memories and start afresh.

"Whatever happened is all past. I want to concentrate on my game, forgetting the past. That (the passport issue), however, will not affect my career. I am very happy to be back (in Kolkata)," said Barreto after arriving on Monday morning.

"Being a short one, this trip was different. I spent the whole time with my family."

During his break, the Kolkata giants have had a new coach in Moroccan Karim Bencherifa, who took charge of the club on June 2.

Praising the former Churchill Brothers' coach, Barreto said, "He's a very experienced and good coach. I know him for a long time and am looking forward to play under him. Being a successful coach, there's obviously a lot of expectation from him (Karim). We've to prove it right," Barreto, who will return to practice in two days, said.

Barreto has to submit his passport to the Customs officials on Wednesday.

"I will extend my full cooperation during the hearing," he said.

Barreto was to arrive on Friday but missed a connecting flight from Sao Paulo to Dubai.

The Mohun Bagan striker was arrested on the charge of carrying unauthorised foreign exchange at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, on March 20 when he was about to catch a Dubai-bound flight en route to Sao Paulo.

Barreto was arrested under the Customs Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act for carrying US $20,500, which was in excess of that allowed to a foreigner.

He got bail on the day of his arrest but the customs authorities seized his passport. The authorities refused to return it even after a high court order. This prompted Baretto to file a contempt petition with the court on April 28.

The next day he was handed the passport and directed by the court to surrender it before the District Judge after returning from Brazil [Images].

Mohun Bagan had a forgetful last season, having finished fifth in the ONGC [Get Quote] I-League, which led to the exit of former coach Carlos Roberto Pereira.

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