MIDDLESBROUGH were last night given a glimmer of hope in their on-off move to recapture Juninho.

The Brazilian star's father, Osvaldo Giroldo Snr, insisted he was still waiting to receive a new offer from Boro after the Teessiders revealed they had revived their attempt to sign the midfielder for the third time.

Giroldo, who also acts as Juninho's agent, failed to agree personal terms with Boro last week when talks on Teesside broke down.

But, having returned to his home in Sao Paulo, Giroldo admitted that he remains open to negotiation.

Speaking to sources in Sao Paulo, Giroldo last night said: "I haven't had a fax or any contact at all with Middlesbrough since I returned.

"Juninho likes English football and he would like to go back to Middlesbrough.

"What they offered was too low, but it is not finished. There could be more negotiations.''

Giroldo's tone appeared almost conciliatory after he had earlier accused Boro of wasting his time and branded their original offer as "unacceptable'' and "disappointing''.

He said: "I travelled in good faith to discuss the move, but Middlesbrough didn't want to negotiate.

"They simply put up a figure and didn't want to discuss it. I can't understand it.

"I'm disappointed that I had to come all the way for that - they could have told me that when I was in Brazil and I would have said 'no'.

"Their offer was unacceptable. It's a real shame. Juninho wanted to come back, he was excited about it - but there is a limit.''

Boro, however, who agreed an undisclosed fee with Atletico nearly a fortnight ago, are refusing to give up the chase for 29-year-old Juninho.

Spokesman Dave Allan said: "We can confirm that we have made a revised offer to Juninho and negotiations are ongoing.

"We are hopeful that both parties can eventually agree a deal to bring Juninho back to Middlesbrough.''

Giroldo last night confirmed that Atletico, who signed Juninho from Boro for £12m five years ago, want him to report back to the Vicente Calderon - but only so they can cash in on the World Cup winner.

"Atletico want him to show up there,'' said Giroldo.

"But I don't believe Juninho will play for them. All they are interested in is the money so they can buy two or three more players.''

First, however, Juninho is due to play up to three more games in Brazil for Flamengo, where he spent last season on loan after a similar spell with Vasco da Gama.

Juninho had spoken last week of the possibility that he could stay with Flamengo.

But sources confirmed that the cash-strapped Rio de Janeiro club, who boast former World Cup winner Romario among their ranks, simply don't have the funds to make Juninho a permanent feature.

At the moment, his intention is to stay with Flamengo until early August before returning to Madrid.

But Boro are waiting anxiously to see whether he tears up his schedule and makes a diversion to Teesside.

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