According to L’Équipe, Juninho is set to rejoin Olympique Lyonnais as an advisor to the club’s owner John Textor. The Brazilian had previously been OL’s sporting director before departing in 2021.
Textor confirmed earlier this week that Juninho would almost certainly return to the club. “I think he cares about the club a great deal and he clearly wants to help and I appreciate that. I think his best days at Lyon are still to come,” the American told RMC Sport on Monday.
Juninho, however, currently lives in Rio, Brazil, and he wants to remain there, as Textor revealed. A full-time return was therefore ruled out by the OL owner. However, he is set to take up the role as Textor’s advisor, which could see him spend one week in Lyon per month. The Brazilian could even attend Les Gones’ match against Toulouse FC on 10th December.
Friio in, Cheyrou out
Juninho isn’t the only arrival at the club. Following David Friio’s departure from Olympique de Marseille last month, he has taken up the sporting director role at Lyon. Whilst his arrival is yet to be officialised, he is already working at the club, according to L’Équipe.
He will fill the void vacated by the departures of Vincent Ponsot and Bruno Cheyrou. The latter’s departure is yet to be officialised as an agreement is yet to be found. Cheyrou is owed bonuses for the departures of players such as Romain Faivre, Castello Lukeba and Bradley Barcola, which Textor wants him to waive.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
