Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JESUS NICE SUPERSTAR
Boro legend Juninho says fellow Brazilian ‘is everything you want’ and will be a huge player for Manchester City
TWENTY-TWO years after arriving on Teesside from Sao Paulo, Juninho still enjoys a competitive kickabout with his mates.
“I still have tricks. I can still think quickly, but the legs don’t play fast any more,” says the 44-year-old, who was the second Brazilian to play in the Premier League.
Memories of the former Middlesbrough striker skipping his way through defences remain strong, and the list of influential Brazilians to grace the top flight grows.
Forty have followed him. Several overpriced flops who failed to settle. Then there are the championship winners, most recently Willian and David Luiz at Chelsea.
But looking ahead to the new season, Juninho is tipping 20-year-old Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus to have a huge impact.
Juninho (below) said: “I was surprised how fast he adapted. Sometimes you need to see some games first to learn. But he has done it immediately.
“His character is matched with English football. He is clever too. He knows what he is doing before the ball comes. He will keep doing what he did in his first appearances.”
It will be Jesus’s first full season since joining City from Palmeiras in January. He scored seven goals in eight Premier League starts before injury curtailed his season, and City’s ended trophyless.
Juninho said: “City need someone to have a big impact next season and he can be that man.
“His contribution to winning something will be a big one. He is the player who can decide a game. That is important. When you play for a huge club, you need individual talent who can do that.
“When he was in Palmeiras, he surprised everyone when he came to the first team and played so well. He has a personality that means he is not afraid of any game, no matter how big.
“He is fast and has a great first touch that makes him clever. And we know he scores goals. He is a calm finisher. He is everything you could want.”
Juninho, who won 50 caps for Brazil and is now enjoying running fourth division side Ituano FC, keeps a close eye on the Premier League.
He will be in London this week, playing alongside Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo and Gilberto Silva for Brazil at Star Sixes, a six-a-side world cup for legends being held at The O2, from Thursday to Sunday.
Juninho added: “It is good to see Philippe Coutinho, a nice guy, deserving what he is getting. He is having a huge influence at Liverpool.
“Roberto Firmino is emerging at Liverpool. He is more direct and searches for goals. He is a different player to Coutinho.
“At Chelsea, Willian had an impressive year for Brazil. I don’t think he has the ability of Jesus or Coutinho but he knows how to use his skills.
“David Luiz has a great touch but I see him as more of a midfielder than a centre-back.
“The Premier League has changed from my time. More and more quality players are coming to it.”