Name : | Osvaldo Giroldo Junior |
Birthplace : | Sau Paulo, Brazil |
DOB : | 22nd February 1973 |
Signed From : | Sau Paulo, October 1995 for £4.75m |
Sold To : | Athletico Madrid, July 1997 for £12m |
Other Clubs : | Juventus, Corinthians, Ituano, Sau Paulo (all Brazil), Athletico Madrid (Spain) |
Boro Record : | Played 72(2) Goals 17 |
Int. Record : | (with Boro) Played 6 |
Juninho captured the hearts of Boro fans after his signing in October 1995. He caught the eye of Bryan Robson while playing for Brazil at the end of the previous season when he scored a superb free-kick against England at Wembley. Robbo beat off competition from Arsenal and bad mouthing from the southern press to sign the 'little fella'.
His career at Boro started fairly quietly as he took time to settle but towards the end of his first season he was showing the skills which would put him right at the top of Boro's all time greats. Arguably, only Wilf Mannion would beat him to the top.
His second season would be one filled with dozens of memorable moments and earned him the Carling Player of the Season award. Unfortunately Boro could not rely on him alone and Boro were relegated to Division 1 on the last day of the season in a very emotional match at Leeds.
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Juninho had not been successful in gaining the international recognition he strived for and with the World Cup only a season away he felt his best option would be to move on to pastures new in an effort to put it right.
It was with great regret that he left the club after less than two seasons but Boro did manage to make over £7M profit on his sale to Athletico Madrid.
His ambitions to gain a place in the Brazilian World Cup squad was dealt a fatal blow when he broke his leg just before Christmas, leaving him sidelined for all but the last few games of the season, too late to prove his fitness and ability to the Brazilian coaching staff.
Following a managerial change at Athletico his future was put into question and he spent much of the following season on the bench. Boro had arranged with Athletico that should he become available for transfer they would have first choice at a fixed price of £5.9M.
On several occasions Boro were on the verge of completing a deal to bring him home, watched closely by Aston Villa. Nothing perspired until early the next season when Boro managed to bring Juninho back to the Riverside, on loan, for the season, with an option to buy at the end.
Although he was still by far the best ball player at the club he had lost just a bit of that sparkle which brought him so many rave reviews in his first spell.
It wasn't a surprise when Boro tried to negotiate a better deal, but Athletico would not budge and regretfully Boro pulled out of the deal. Juninho, still registered with Athletico, was sent out on loan again, for the season, back to Brazil.
Who knows he may return one day, at 28 he has still got a good few years in him yet.