He previously played for Juventude, Ponte Preta, Grêmio and Botafogo in the Campeonato Brasileiro. On 8 March 2011, Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande announced that they had signed Renato Cajá on a four-year deal with a fee of US$2.25 million. On 9 April, he made his CSL debut in a 1–1 away draw against Nanchang Hengyuan in the second round of the season. On 17 April, in a league match which Guangzhou Evergrande played against Beijing Guoan at home, he was unhappy for being substituted out by team manager Lee Jang-Soo and returned to dressing room directly. He received a ban of 3 matches and was sent to reserve team by the club. After Cléo suffered a muscular strain in early May, he had a further chance to play for the club. However, Renato Cajá eventually could not adapt himself to the team's strategy. On 2 July, Argentine midfielder Darío Conca joined Guangzhou Evergrande with a domestic record fee of $10 million. Renato Cajá was ruled out in the squad due to the foreign players restricted. He was loaned back to Ponte Preta on 15 July for one year with a fee of 600,000 USD. In June 2012, Renato Cajá was loaned to J1 League side Kashima Antlers for 6 months. Kashima Antlers also had an option to make the move permanent in the end of the 2012 league season with a fee of US$2 million. Renato Cajá made his debut in the first leg of 2012 J. League Cup quarter-finals which Kashima Antlers played against Cerezo Osaka on 25 July, coming on as a substitute for Júnior Dutra in the second half. His first J League debut came on 3 days later, in a 2–2 home draw against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. On 1 August, Renato Cajá scored his first goal for Kashima in the 2012 Suruga Bank Championship. He kept his good performance and scored his first league goal from a direct free kick on 11 August, which ensured Kashima beat Júbilo Iwata 2–1. Renato Cajá scored 3 goals in 20 appearances for Kashima before he was loaned return to Guangzhou Evergrande on 30 December. Renato Cajá moved to Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Vitóriaon loan on 15 January 2013. On 13 January 2014, he was loaned to Süper Lig side Bursaspor until the end of 2013-2014 league season. In July 2014, he was transferred to Série B club Ponte Preta.
