Middlesbrough’s transfer history has come to light again this week. This comes after icon Juninho Paulista admitted he made the wrong call when leaving England. At the time, there was strong interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Brazilian, who enjoyed several spells at the Riverside and became a key figure for the club, is considering one of the biggest decisions of his career.
While his time at Middlesbrough brought success and recognitionHis departure now comes with obvious regret, including a League Cup win in 2004.
During his tenure with Boro, he made 150 appearances, scoring 34 goals and providing 18 assists. These numbers underline his importance as a creative force. Furthermore, they help explain why interest from Premier League clubs grew around him, with chances of him signing for Liverpool and Tottenham.
Meanwhile, he played for Atlético Madrid from 1997 to 1999 after signing a €13.80m (£11.9m) deal with Boro. He then had a loan spell in Brazil (while still linked to Atleti) until he was brought back to the Riverside in 2002 for €6.90m (£5.9m).
Interest from Premier League rivals
speaking about that period brazilian podcastJuninho Paulista has revealed that interest from top English clubs is very real as his time at Middlesbrough comes to an end.
“There was interest from Manchester United, but they didn’t want to pay what Middlesbrough wanted. I think it was £12m (€14m). Ferguson didn’t want to pay.”
That assessment proved decisive. Despite serious attention from Old Trafford, no agreement was reached, leaving the door open for other clubs to pursue.
He confirmed that both Liverpool and Tottenham have also taken concrete steps.
“Liverpool and Tottenham made offers.”
At the time, Middlesbrough was dealing with increasing demand for one of their outstanding artists. His numbers and impact over several spells have made him one of the most recognizable attacking midfielders. This was especially true outside the traditional elite clubs.
The decision is now seen as a mistake
However, with hindsight, Juninho Paulista now believes that he should have stayed in England instead of moving abroad.
“If I had any awareness today I wouldn’t have left England. I would have gone to Liverpool or Tottenham.”
This admission is shocking. This shows that, despite opportunities at a higher level within the Premier League, he chose a different path at that time. Now, this is what he questions.
Instead, he decided to leave England altogether, ending the chapter that had seen him flourish in a fast-paced and physically demanding league.
What does it mean in hindsight
For Middlesbrough, the situation highlights how close they came to cashing in on one of their most valuable assets during that era.
A potential £12 million (€14 million) deal with Manchester United would have represented a major transfer at the time – but would have strengthened a local competitor, which was not the case with Atleti.
However, the club’s strict stance on valuation meant that the move never materialised. Meanwhile, interest from Liverpool and Tottenham shows the level he has reached in English football.
From the player’s perspective, the regret is obvious. He now believes that staying in England – and moving up to the Premier League – could be a better career move.
That reflection adds a new layer to an already successful spell at Middlesbrough. It also reinforces how quickly decisions in the transfer market can shape a player’s long-term trajectory.
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