Hull pull plug on Juninho deal

Hull City have pulled out of their bid to sign former Brazilian international Juninho.

The Middlesbrough legend held talks with The Tigers - but the Championship side have decided against pursuing their interest in the 34-year-old.

"I can tell you that Juninho will not be coming to Hull City," said chairman Paul Duffen.

"I've been very consistent about this the whole way through that in order for that move to happen it had to be right.

"And in terms of the footballing side of the club it obviously had to be right financially. It's always been about being a footballing decision.

"We haven't managed to get completely together on the financial aspect of the deal.

"At the same time the lads all went out to Italy to pre-season training camp and the atmosphere there has been fantastic.

"They've all turned up fit and healthy and enthusiastic and we have taken all the considerations into account."

However, Juninho's agent Jonathan Hassall claims Hull have used his client as part of a publicity stunt.

"We just feel that he's a new guy who has come into football and used Juninho to publicise Hull but then backtracked on what he's said," he opined.

"He wanted a World Cup star and the publicity it has created has got Hull on radio, television and in the newspapers.

"The interest he's created has been frightening but I fear he has just been used as a marketing tool.

"We are dealing with a player who's played 50 times for the best footballing nation in the world.

"But I spoke to Phil Brown last night and he said that his chairman (Duffen) has gone on radio saying that the deal was off - although he's not had the decency to get in touch with me.

"Looking at it, it looks like he just kept us dangling, milked the publicity and then pulled the plug."