Junio Lopes

Attacking Midfielder (R) - Mirassol
29 Aug 2030
Thursday
Process

Marked for Junio Lopes

212 Edition

The Mirassol Courier

19 Aug 2030
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Edson Carioca

Successful dribbles: 28. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Squad

Junio Lopes: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Mirassol have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Squad

Tempers go at Mirassol

Antonio Galeano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Shaylon in the eights

A performance of 9.37 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

Match

Mirassol find a way past Criciuma

Criciuma made Mirassol work for it, but the scoreboard read 2‑1 at the end and the table does not ask how.

Player ratings

João Victor in the eights

A performance of 8.80 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

Player ratings

One of those days for Negueba

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.44, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Squad

Murilo Prates gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Squad

João Victor suspended

One booking too many, and João Victor sits out. Mirassol lose him for the sort of avoidable reason that makes a manager's week longer.

In brief

Back issues
205 Edition

The Mirassol Courier

1 Jul 2030
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

No mercy from Mirassol

Santa Cruz will want this one forgotten quickly: 3‑0, every duel lost, and a long ride home. Mirassol were ruthless in the way good sides are ruthless.

Squad

A one-man rearguard from Le Keun Hyeong

There were 7 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.

Player ratings

Nothing got past Igor Formiga

Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 26 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.

Market

Gabriel Pires has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Mirassol they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Reinaldo out for 14 days

The medical room confirms 14 days on the sidelines for Reinaldo, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.

Player ratings

Nothing got past Willian Machado

Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 22 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.

Squad

João Victor in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Mirassol this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Player ratings

One of those days for Edson Carioca

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.15, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Negueba

Marked 9.02 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

In brief

204 Edition

The Mirassol Courier

24 Jun 2030
From our football correspondent Crisis

Match

The wait goes on for Mirassol

8 without a win now, and the ground has developed the special quiet of a crowd that expects the worst. One scrappy 1-0 would cure most of it; that is the maddening part.

Squad

Le Keun Hyeong keeps Mirassol in it on his own

Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.

Squad

Tempers go at Mirassol

Antonio Galeano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Artur gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Match

Botafogo take the points off Mirassol

Beaten 0‑1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Negueba

Successful dribbles: 17. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Market

Yvann Konan is free to find somewhere else

“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Mirassol has been clear about where Yvann Konan stands, which is more than many ever get.

Market

The Negueba story refuses to die

It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Negueba signs something — a contract at Mirassol or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.

The terraces

The spotlight tightens on Rodrigues

Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.

In brief

199 Edition

The Mirassol Courier

20 May 2030
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

Mirassol bow out of the cup

Bahia go through and Mirassol go home, 0‑1 the scoreline that did it. The dressing room will call the league the priority now, because that is what dressing rooms say.

Squad

Mirassol count the cost of losing Artur

85 days, the scan says, and scans are kinder than reality. The fixtures in that window have just become somebody else’s job.

Squad

João Victor in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Mirassol this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Player ratings

One of those days for Antonio Galeano

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.06, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Rodrigues

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Match

Mirassol and Sport Recife take a point apiece

It finished 1‑1, and it somehow always looked like it would. One of those afternoons where the table moves less than the tempers.

In brief

  • Player ratings Nobody could get near Junio Lopes
  • Player ratings Lucão leaves them behind him
  • Squad João Pedro asks for a word with the manager
  • Player ratings Off the pace: Shaylon
166 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

1 Oct 2029
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad

Daniel Armstrong says Dinamo Bucharest went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Market

Juan Ignacio Duma hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Dinamo Bucharest can pretend not to have heard.

Match

9 unbeaten for Dinamo Bucharest

Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 9 matches without defeat is a foundation Dinamo Bucharest did not have in the autumn.

Squad

Lorenzo Biliboc stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Lorenzo Biliboc and Dinamo Bucharest agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Squad

Cătălin Cîrjan in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Dinamo Bucharest this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Market

Junio Lopes has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Dinamo Bucharest they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Alberto Soro is carrying Dinamo Bucharest

8 goals and a season average of 7.54. Form like that gets noticed well beyond this town.

Player ratings

Alberto Soro in the eights

A performance of 9.46 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

Match

Alberto Soro sends Dinamo Bucharest past Astra

It finished 2‑1, and it was Alberto Soro’s afternoon: on the scoresheet when it mattered, and the reason the points belong to Dinamo Bucharest.

In brief

162 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

3 Sep 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Kennedy Boateng in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Dinamo Bucharest this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Market

Junio Lopes has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Dinamo Bucharest they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Juan Ignacio Duma stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Juan Ignacio Duma and Dinamo Bucharest agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Squad

Alberto Soro is in the form of his life

A season average of 7.43 with 7 goals behind it. Opponents have started planning around him, which is the sincerest compliment football pays.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Alberto Soro

Marked 8.77 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

Market

Eyes on Mauro García again

The phone has started ringing about Mauro García again, and this time the name on the line is Astra. Dinamo Bucharest are listening politely and promising nothing.

Player ratings

One of those days for Lorenzo Biliboc

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.36, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Player ratings

One of those days for Kennedy Boateng

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.25, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Raul Opruţ

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

158 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

6 Aug 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Cristian Mihai keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Dinamo Bucharest may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

Alaa Bellaarouch keeps Dinamo Bucharest in it on his own

Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.

Match

Dinamo Bucharest find a way past Voluntari

Voluntari made Dinamo Bucharest work for it, but the scoreboard read 6‑4 at the end and the table does not ask how.

Market

Only the photograph left for Junio Lopes

Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Junio Lopes will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Dinamo Bucharest the goodbyes have quietly begun.

Squad

Tempers go at Dinamo Bucharest

George Puşcaş was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

One of those days for Cătălin Cîrjan

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.94, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Alberto Soro

Marked 9.25 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

Squad

Eddy Gnahoré gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Player ratings

Adrian Mazilu in the eights

A performance of 8.45 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

In brief

154 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

9 Jul 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Eddy Gnahoré stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Eddy Gnahoré and Dinamo Bucharest agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Market

Only the photograph left for Junio Lopes

Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Junio Lopes will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Dinamo Bucharest the goodbyes have quietly begun.

Squad

Cătălin Cîrjan in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Dinamo Bucharest this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

In brief

150 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

11 Jun 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Alexandru Musi signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Alexandru Musi commits to Dinamo Bucharest for another 5 years.

Squad

Kennedy Boateng in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Dinamo Bucharest this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Market

Only the photograph left for Junio Lopes

Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Junio Lopes will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Dinamo Bucharest the goodbyes have quietly begun.

Squad

Matteo Duţu gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Market

No place for Dmitry Sadov in the plan

“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Dmitry Sadov has his answer from Dinamo Bucharest; what he does with it is the next window’s story.

Market

Kennedy Boateng linked with a move away

The name of Kennedy Boateng keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Dinamo Bucharest say nothing, which says plenty.

In brief

146 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

14 May 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Market

Junio Lopes has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Dinamo Bucharest they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Tempers go at Dinamo Bucharest

Cătălin Cîrjan was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Dinamo Bucharest count the cost of losing Sultan Rashid

27 days, the scan says, and scans are kinder than reality. The fixtures in that window have just become somebody else’s job.

Squad

Home is on Erko Jonne Tõugjas's mind

“Some mornings you wake up and you are still a long way from everything you know.” It is not the football and it never was; Dinamo Bucharest are dealing with a man who wants a different country.

Loan watch

Alexandru Musi keeps scoring at Paksi

22 appearances away from home and 9 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.

Market

The Cătălin Cîrjan talk will not go away

Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Dinamo Bucharest know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.

In brief

142 Edition

The Dinamo Bucharest Herald

16 Apr 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Tempers go at Dinamo Bucharest

Kennedy Boateng was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Market

Junio Lopes has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Dinamo Bucharest they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Sultan Rashid out for 56 days

The medical room confirms 56 days on the sidelines for Sultan Rashid, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.

Loan watch

Alexandru Musi keeps scoring at Paksi

22 appearances away from home and 9 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.

Market

The Cătălin Cîrjan talk will not go away

Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Dinamo Bucharest know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.

Squad

Benjamín Maliani knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Benjamín Maliani trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

In brief