Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho has finally cut his losses and returned home to Brazil on a year's loan deal with Vasco Da Gama. The 27-year-old, still officially an Atletico Madrid player, has opted to return to South America after Boro refused to meet the asking price to make his temporary move to the Riverside Stadium permanent.
Bryan Robson paid out £1.5million last season to hand Juninho a second spell on Teesside. But the Spaniards, who were relegated from their top flight at the end of last season, wanted another £5.9million before they would hand over his registration. Boro were not prepared to meet the asking price as cash-strapped Atletico attempted to liquidate some of their biggest assets and nor were other interested parties, including Greek side Olympiakos, Portugal's FC Porto and Vasco's domestic rivals Flamengo.
Robson admitted he would have happily kept the player at the Riverside and that he will continue to monitor his progress. “I know many of our supporters are passionate about Juninho,” he said. “I'm a big fan of his too, that's why I've brought him to Teesside twice. But given the £5.9million asking price, there are other players that we feel offer better value for money at the present time. Madrid would not move on the fee, and that's why I suppose there have been no offers for him. I think this is probably a good move for Juninho to go back to Brazil on a year's loan. We will wish him well and we will monitor his progress over there.” (PA)
