Lyon legend Juninho´s departure confirmed

Former Brazilian international midfielder Juninho will certainly play his last match for seven-time French champions this weekend ending a spectacularly successful spell there, club president Jean-Michel Aulas announced on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old has been the inspiration behind Lyon’s seven titles, including last year’s domestic double, since joining from Vasco da Gama in 2001.

He notched up his 100th goal for the club – including 44 from freekicks – last weekend.

However, Aulas has reluctantly agreed that perhaps the greatest player in the club’s history can leave prematurely.

“Juninho is going to leave us,” Aulas told a press conference.

“We are going to allow him to terminate his contract early as there is still a year to go on it. He can go where he wants.”

Juninho, who reached three Champions League quarter-finals with Lyon and is their leading scorer in the competition with 18 goals, was so moved that he left the press conference without saying a word.