Juninho to play for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough have announced that former player Juninho will turn out for the club for their pre-season friendly against PSV Eindhoven.

Middlesbrough have announced that former player Juninho will turn out for the club for their pre-season friendly against PSV Eindhoven.

The former Brazilian World Cup winner – who tormented many players wearing a Blue England Shirt in his time – enjoyed a successful time at the Riverside, having three spells with the club and proving to be a genuine fans favourite from day one.

He will now get the chance to impress the Boro fans once again as he returns on the 29th July for one last match.

During his time at Middlesbrough, Juninho won the Carling Cup in 2004 and was part of the side that reached the FA Cup and Coca-Cola Cup finals in 1997.

He was a fantastic player for the club and one of the most popular players in Premier League history.

The 38-year-old was actually voted as the club’s best ever player and on the back of this admitted that he wanted to play one last game for the club.

He now has his wish and Boro boss Tony Mowbray is pleased everyone involved as managed to make it happen.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our fans to pay tribute to one of the most famous players in our history.”

“They never had the chance to give Juninho a proper send-off when he left last time and I know how much they will welcome the chance to show their appreciation for everything he did for the club.”

Mowbray went on to say that the friendly will still be taken seriously with regards to the team’s preparations for the new season, but that Juninho will play ‘at some stage’.

As for what the Brazilian is doing now, he is a manager in his home country having taken charge of Ituano.

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You just know that he will still have the magic touch though and no doubt Boro fans will be chanting for Mowbray to ‘sign him up, sign him up, sign him up’ at some stage during the match.