Brazilian forward joined our club as free agent having three years of Ukrainian Premier League experience.
Ball as the best friend!
Sport has been playing the key role in the life of Moraes since childhood. His father used to be a professional football player and featured for such famous Brazilian teams as Santos, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. His mother played tennis and elder brother also footballer. By the way, his father is acquainted with Pele. Ball was Junior’s best friend.
“Foreign native”
Junior Moraes trained at Santos academy for ten years and in 2006, when he was 19, he was invited to the main squad. Still his career in the native club wasn’t a success. Moraes made 16 appearances within almost two seasons and scored two goals. Because of the conflict with the head coach he signed loan agreement with Ponte Preta. Later he featured for Santo Andre and eventually decided to move to Europe.
Recognition due to work and skills
The first stop of Moraes in Europe was Romanian side Gloria Bistrița. In 2010 Junior became Romanian league best foreign player and striker. He netted 18 goals in 32 matches.
In 2011/12 season Brazilian forward featured for CSKA Sofia. That year he scored 16 goals and won silver with his team.
The fated will happen
The third destination of Moraes in Eastern Europe was Ukraine. In July of 2012 he signed three-year contract with FC Metalurh Donetsk.
He always had starting spot and other clubs were interested in him. Throughout his second season in Ukraine Moraes netted 19 goals, which is a very good result. The team depended on Junior a lot.
2014/15 season wasn’t such a success for Moraes. Because of the situation in the country Metalurh had to leave Donets and move to Kyiv. There was no doubt that Junior would leave the club.
Defining his Dynamo future
Eventually Moraes chose FC Dynamo Kyiv. He has friends in our team (Betao, Danilo Silva, Lens), besides he’s familiar with Serhiy Rebrov’s requirements. Serious competition for starting spot doesn’t bother him.
Speaking about the transfer of Junior Moraes Dynamo president Ihor Surkis stated: “We wanted to sign him last year, but didn’t find common ground with Metalurh direction. The player was willing to join Dynamo and after he became free agent he made his choice”.
* photo by V. Rasner
Copyright © 2015 FC Dynamo Kyiv
