Pumas are on the verge of signing Flamengo's 29-year-old forward, Juninho.
César Luis Merlo reports that the two clubs have reached a verbal agreement with the final details of a contract being finalised.
The deal is set to be in the region of $5million as Pumas put to an end their six month search for a striker. Los Universitarios searched far and wide in the summer for the missing piece of their attack, but failed to find the right candidate.
Pumas suffered a setback during the Liga MX Apertura, which led to many fans calling for manager Efraín Juárez to be sacked. This came after the club finished 10th in the regular season, facing Play-In elimination against Pachuca.
Despite climbing into the final Play-In position on the final day, the club scored the second fewest goals of any of the top ten teams in the league, a record only beaten by Pachuca.
Who is Juninho?
Olávio Vieira dos Santos Júnior, better known as Juninho rose through the Athletico Paranaense but spent the early years of his career on loan at various Brazilian and Portuguese clubs.
In 2020, Juninho made a permamnent move to the Portuguese second division by joining GD Chaves where he made a return of 13 goals in 76 matches. Three seasons later, he made a move to Azerbaijan, signing for giants Qarabag.
His first season at the club was his most successful, netting 20 goals in 35 matches. A year later, he was on the radar of Brazilian giants Flamengo, moving back to his home country in January 2025.
While the forward failed to land a permanent position in the starting lineup, the 29-year-old contributed with a goal as the club went all the way to lift the 2025 Copa Libertadores.
The Brazilian is currently in Qatar with Flamengo representing the club at the FIFA Club World Cup with the side reaching the final and set to face Paris Saint Germain. This comes after they defeat Cruz Azul in the quarter-final.
Will Juninho be a star at Pumas? Let us know!