Football: Juninho makes welcome return to Boro

JUNINHO BEGINS a second stint at the Riverside today after Middlesbrough signed the diminutive Brazilian midfielder on a short-term contract until the end of the season, subject to a successful application for a work permit.

Juninho left Boro two years ago after the club's relegation to the First Division but, after falling out of favour with the Spanish side Atletico Madrid, the Teesside club have brought him back. Joining Juninho will be Ibrahim Ba, who yesterday signed until the end of the season from Milan. Ba is a 26-year-old Senegal-born French international forward.

Atletico, who signed Juninho for pounds 12m in July 1997, have settled for a loan deal after failing to reach agreement over a transfer fee. The club's president, Jesus Gil, said: "Juninho is a star and he couldn't spend all his time on the bench."

Middlesbrough's chief executive, Keith Lamb, said that the return of Juninho will delight the Riverside supporters.

"Bringing Juninho back is great news for Teesside and I am sure our fans will be delighted," he said. "He was a massive success during his 18 months with us and we hardly need to explain why we want to put him back in a Middlesbrough shirt."

The Aston Villa chairman, Doug Ellis, has warned off Newcastle United from making an approach for the Midlands club's manager, John Gregory. Newcastle are seeking a successor to Ruud Gullit, who resigned on Saturday. Gregory was believed to have been under consideration, but Ellis said: "The press speculation about Newcastle United is just that and no contact has been made by John or that club. In any event, any approach would be rejected immediately. John's future is with Aston Villa."

Gregory and Ellis were reported to have had a disagreement following the 1-0 defeat of Middlesbrough. Gregory was apparently annoyed that the chairman had ignored the club's impressive start to the season and instead complained about home attendances. However, Ellis has denied that there is any rift. "I did speak to John after the game on Saturday, as I usually do, and congratulated him on the result but was not aware that I had said anything contentious," Ellis said.

Gerard Houllier's spending appears to know no bounds and, having already paid out around pounds 25m this season, the Liverpool manager's next target is Michael Sylvestre, a left-back who plays for Internazionale.

Sylvestre, who can also play at centre-half, is unsure of his future with the Italian Serie A side after the arrival of their new coach Marcello Lippi, who has signed a replacement for him.