In the 1988–89 season Amarildo moved abroad, playing in Spain for Celta de Vigo and scoring 16 goals – fourth-best in La Liga, which included a brace in a 2–0 home win against Real Madrid – as the Galicians finished in tenth position. He spent the following three years in Italy, appearing for S.S. Lazio and A.C. Cesena and suffering Serie A relegation in his second year with the latter side.