Juninho joins England's top foreign footballers

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): Picture the scene. A dimly lit, smoke-filled bar in downtown Sao Paulo. At a nearby table a group of strangers paw over a map of the British Isles.

And who could blame them, for Juninho, the best player in Brazil, has just signed for Byran Robson's Middlesbrough.

The problem, however, joy turning quickly to anxiety, is that Middlesbrough is proving a little difficult to locate.

Meanwhile, several thousands miles away in a dimly lit, smoke- filled bar in uptown Redcar, Middlesbrough fans, the antidote for deep shock, are sipping copious pints of brown ale.

And who could blame them, the best player in Brazil has just signed for their club!

The problem, however, joy turning quickly to anxiety, is that not a single supporter can understand -- why?

Tucked away in the north-east of England -- to the west, bleak moorland; to the east, the swirling greyness of the North Sea. Middlesbrough does not come readily to mind when the talk turns to that of samba or sun-kissed beaches.

And yet, in what must count as the most daring transfer raid since Tottenham landed Argentinean World Cup stars, Ardiles and Villia, Middlesbrough has signed Juninho -- a man with samba coursing through his veins, a man raised on sun-kissed beaches, and, if that were not enough, a man recently voted Brazilian footballer of the year.

The player apparently caught the eye of Robson, an England coach, when he scored for his country during their 3-1 Umbro Trophy win over England at Wembley in June.

But that was England, flaming June and the lush expanses of Wembley Stadium. What will Juninho think of his move to Middlesbrough on a wintry December evening, snow on the ground, and opposition of the likes of Jones, Ruddock or Wise?

The hardest job in British football has just been redefined. No longer that of the England team manager, it has fallen to the man who will teach Juninho the harsh footballing facts of life, Premiership style.

No easy task, either. For while the likes of Gullit, Cantona, Ginola and Yeboah have quickly made their mark, they had European football as their finishing school.

Given such education, the Premiership is little more than a stroll in the park. All, too, have played through European winters where conditions can, at best, be described as a Brazilian nightmare.

The move becomes even more intriguing in light of the fact that most of the top club sides in Europe would have had Juninho on their shopping list.

So why choose the rough and tumble of English football? And why such an unfashionable club as Middlesbrough? A club newly returned to the Premiership, with a largely untested management team and a modest, albeit new, stadium.

In an attempt to shed light on the transfer, news reports over the weekend confirmed Robson to be a highly respected, household name in Brazil.

Which again is curious for, during a distinguished playing career, his passion was more for sambuca than samba.

Sweat blood

Renowned for his ability to sweat blood, tackle on sight, score a goal or two and take no more than a passing interest in creativity, Robson represented the archetypal English midfield player.

But the man never had a Brazilian bone in his body.

Could it be that many in Brazil still think of him as a Manchester United player? Indeed, that their boy is now heading for fame and fortune at Old Trafford? In which case a serious blunder has occurred.

To ease the culture shock, the poverty and urban decay of northeast England may well remind Juninho of home. But it is in matters of recreation that problems will inevitably surface.

His beach quest, for instance, will prove fruitless and more than a little dangerous, as most thereabouts are used as bombing ranges or for training race horses.

And unless he holds a particular passion for coal barges, ear infections and hypothermia, nor will the North Sea hold any great interest.

As to how long the samba beat will take to depart his life and limbs, only time will tell.

For the moment, then, all that can be said of this outrageous transfer coup is that Middlesbrough are in for quite a surprise, but nothing compared to the one that awaits Juninho.

Oh yes, and for those Brazilians among the readership, take the Al North to Darlington, right onto the A66 and this will take you into Middlesbrough's city center.