If fans of Vasco da Gama were hoping to watch their hero play for one more year, then they may be disappointed. Juninho Pernambucano is struggling to recuperate fitness and is expected to announce his retirement from football soon.
Faced with fitness troubles, the 38-year-old is likely to call an end to his glittering career imminently. Although directors of the Rio de Janeiro club have been trying to persuade the player to continue at least until the end of the state championships, it appears as though the decision may already have been taken.
“Our relationship with Juninho is really good. The minimum we can do now is sit down and talk. I don’t want to talk about it before I’ve discussed it with him. More than anything, Juninho is an idol in Vasco’s history. In this respect, we need to talk. In my head, his retirement is not yet official,” said club president Roberto Dinamite.
In three spells for Vasco, the midfielder has made almost 200 appearances and scored 39 goals.
