Vasco offer wayward Edmundo for Juninho

Vasco da Gama are hoping to off-load controversial striker Edmundo to Atletico Madrid in order to keep Juninho, who is currently on loan from the Spanish side, in Brazil. It is believed that Edmundo has played his last game for the club after publicly criticising them for not paying the players their wages.

The Brazilian club have proposed a deal in which Juninho stays in Brazil but Atletico acquire Edmundo in a swap deal. Vasco spokesman Roberto Garófalo confirmed on Wednesday that the club are hoping to conclude a deal which will see the former Middlesbrough player prolong his stay at the club.

He said: "Edmundo or left-wing defender Felipe are the options we have to exchange with Atlético in order to buy Juninho."

Juninho has quickly re-established himself as a star player with Vasco and has struck up a formidable partnership with club captain Romario. It is believed that Edmundo, who was loaned out to Santos earlier this season, has played his last game for Vasco after publicly criticising the club for not paying the players their wages.

However, it is debatable whether Atletico will take up the offer as Edmundo’s career has been courted by controversy. He has only played two internationals since the infamous 1998 World Cup final, when he was replaced in the team by Ronaldo at the very last minute.

Since then, the controversial Brazilian has been hit by a four and a half year prison term for causing the deaths of three pedestrians in a road accident in Rio de Janeiro in 1995.

It is fair to say that the player known as ‘the Animal’ has a rather chequered background. He was born in Sao Goncalo, an impoverished city near Rio de Janeiro, on 21 April, 1971 and made his debut for the club he joined as a teenager, Vasco da Gama, 20 years later.

International recognition followed in 1992 when he made his debut against Mexico and led Palmeiras to the Brazilian championship the following year.

However, he was also sent off five times during that season and handed a 40-day suspension for manhandling a referee in his first, but not last, clash with officials.

In 1995, he upset the Palmeiras management team and was kicked out of the club after saying that the grass at the club's stadium needs cutting. Then played for Flamengo, Corinthians and Vasco, again, where he finally returned to form.

However, in July 1997, Edmundo infuriated national coach Mario Zagallo by elbowing an opponent off the ball. The referee missed the incident but Zagallo promptly substituted him and banned him from the national team.

Was then accused of making racist remarks in the north-east of Brazil after being sent off in a Brazilian championship match before helping Vasco da Gama to win the Brazilian championship in a year which saw him sent off seven times.

Joined Fiorentina in January 1998 but caused a storm by returning to Rio to take part in the Carnival celebrations while his club were struggling to keep their leadership in the Italian championship.

Finally, in September 1999, the Brazilian government's environmental agency threatened to fine Edmundo, who was photographed giving beer to a chimpanzee during a birthday party for his son Junior.