Between 2001 and 2009, Juninho Pernambucano did two things; Win trophies and kick the strike the fuck out of free-kicks.
The Brazilian was operating at such a level when it came to dead ball situations that even Andrea Pirlo admitted to idolising the man from Recife, in his 2014 autobiography, 'I Think Therefore I play', as he wrote, "During his time at Lyon, that man made the ball do some quite extraordinary things. He'd lay it on the ground, twist his body into a few strange shapes, take his run-up and score.
"He never got it wrong. Never. I checked out his stats and realised it couldn't just be chance. He was like an orchestra conductor who'd been assembled upside down, with the baton held by his feet instead of his hands.
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Juninho scored a career total of 75 free-kicks. Image: PA
"He'd give you the thumbs up by raising his big toe - somebody at Ikea was having a good laugh the day they put him together."
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Now, the great man may be returning to OL, eight years after he last played at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
Club president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that there are plans in place to try and bring Juninho back to Lyon at board level.
"We are not far from succeeding. At least I hope so. I'm hopeful of bringing Juninho back. We have been talking to him for a month.
"We are doing everything to convince him. He is a talented, thoughtful boy. He asks a lot of questions. We are working to define the elements that should enable him to give us an agreement in the coming days.
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The Brazilian won seven consecutive Ligue Un titles with OL. Images: PA
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"He left part of his heart in Lyon, where the public adored him. It would be a win-win for him and the club. I think he really wants [to return], his wife also. If he returns, it is to win and carry Lyon to the highest level.
"It would be a new pressure. He has to make an internal and family choice to go 'into business' and live with the pressure related to coaches or leaders."
Juninho won seven consecutive Ligue Un titles during his time with OL, scoring 100 goals in 350 appearances in the process.
(H/T Goal)
Topics: Football, Juninho, Lyon