Juninho backs Real Madrid's Flavio to be Middlesbrough success

Middlesbrough favourite Juninho is backing Flavio to prove a big hit on Teesside.

Flavio is close to securing a move to Boro from Real Madrid and Juninho says: "He is a great defensive midfielder but is also much more than that."

"When he has the ball, he is also very good, his passing and touch are excellent, maybe like you would expect from a top Brazilian. He is a player who will win the ball and enjoy the physical side of the game, but he gets forward as well."

"He can do that because he is tremendous physically and can get up and down the field. If he comes, he will do well - he is a real athlete."