Flamengo's €5m signing faces Saudi escape route | OneFootball

Flamengo are weighing up offers from the Middle East for striker Juninho, who has struggled to make an impact since joining the club at the start of the season, according to Lance and Globo. Saudi Arabian sides Al Riyadh and Najran SC have submitted proposals to take Juninho on loan, each including a financial package for the Rio de Janeiro club.

Juninho, a €5 million signing from Qarabag in January and José Boto’s first acquisition as sporting director, has found first-team chances under Filipe Luís hard to come by. He has started just seven of his 22 appearances in all competitions and scored three times, with the standout moment a crucial goal in Flamengo’s Carioca semi-final win over Fluminense. His playing time has diminished further in recent weeks, featuring as a substitute in four of Flamengo’s last ten games. In December’s Club World Cup campaign, Juninho saw the pitch for a brief nine minutes in the dead rubber against LAFC.

The 23-year-old’s adaptation to Brazilian football has been a challenge—a point not lost on his camp, who have indicated they are open to exploring moves abroad. Despite this, Juninho has continued to focus on training and earning a bigger role, while the Flamengo hierarchy maintains their preference for a permanent sale over a loan, hoping to recoup most of the outlay that brought him from Azerbaijan. His contract with Flamengo is set to run until December 2028.

Before agreeing personal terms with Flamengo, Juninho was close to a switch to Sevilla in Spain but had a change of heart after speaking directly with Filipe Luís. The current interest from the Saudi clubs is being viewed as a possible solution for all parties: more game time for the player and a financial boost for Flamengo.

The offers arrive as the club is navigating a period of transition in the squad. Flamengo have just secured a substantial fee from Zenit for Gerson, while also losing Erick Pulgar to injury for up to three months. Amid uncertainty, there is a clear desire to refresh and rebalance personnel for the second half of the season.

There is no immediate agreement in place, but discussions are advancing—driven in part by Juninho’s own desire for regular football and Flamengo’s openness to business if the terms make sense. Whether this translates to an exit in this window, or a continued wait for the right terms, likely depends on further negotiations between all parties.

(Sources: Lance, Globo)

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