Daniel Júnior
{{Short description|Brazilian footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Portuguese name|Melo|Araújo}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Daniel Júnior
| image = Daniel de Melo Araújo Júnior (cropped).jpg
| caption = Daniel Júnior playing for Akhmat Grozny in 2023
| fullname = Daniel de Melo Araújo Júnior
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|05|09|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Santo André, Brazil
| height = {{height|m=1.77}}
| currentclub = Vitória
| clubnumber =
| position = Attacking midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2015–2021
| youthclubs1 = Palmeiras
| youthyears2 = 2021–2022
| youthclubs2 = Cruzeiro
| years1 = 2022–2024
| clubs1 = Cruzeiro
| caps1 = 45
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2023–2024
| clubs2 = → Akhmat Grozny (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = Vitória
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2024
| clubs4 = → América Mineiro (loan)
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2025
| clubs5 = → Portuguesa (loan)
| caps5 = 5
| goals5 = 0
| club-update = 18:55, 30 January 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
Daniel de Melo Araújo Júnior (born 9 May 2002), known as Daniel Júnior, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Vitória.
Career
=Early career=
Born in Santo André, São Paulo, Daniel Júnior began his career with Palmeiras, signing his first professional contract with the club on 6 September 2019.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/palmeiras/noticia/artilheiro-do-paulista-sub-17-assina-primeiro-contrato-profissional-com-o-palmeiras.ghtml|title=Artilheiro do Palmeiras no Paulista sub-17 assina primeiro contrato profissional com o time|trans-title=Top scorer of Palmeiras in the Paulista sub-17 signs first professional contract with the club|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=6 September 2019|accessdate=1 January 2025}} On 20 March 2021, however, after failing to make his breakthrough in the under-20 team, he rescinded his link,{{cite web|url=https://www.lance.com.br/palmeiras/crias-academia-companheiro-gabriel-veron-sub-daniel-melo-deixa.html|title=Crias da Academia: Companheiro de Gabriel Veron no sub-17, Daniel Melo deixa o Palmeiras|trans-title=Crias da Academia: Gabriel Veron's partner in the under-17s, Daniel Melo leaves Palmeiras|publisher=Lance!|language=pt-BR|date=20 March 2021|accessdate=1 January 2025}} and joined Cruzeiro on 11 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.diarioceleste.com.br/noticias-do-cruzeiro/ex-palmeiras-daniel-melo-assina-com-o-cruzeiro/|title=Ex-Palmeiras, Daniel Melo assina com o Cruzeiro|trans-title=Formerly of Palmeiras, Daniel Melo signs with Cruzeiro|publisher=Diário Celeste|language=pt-BR|date=11 May 2021|accessdate=1 January 2025}}
=Cruzeiro=
After impressing with the under-20s,{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/cruzeiro/noticia/2022/05/30/daniel-jr-do-cruzeiro-lembra-que-passou-fome-com-a-familia-e-quase-desistiu-do-futebol-video.ghtml|title=Daniel Jr., do Cruzeiro, lembra que passou fome com a família e quase desistiu do futebol; vídeo|trans-title=Daniel Jr., from Cruzeiro, remembers that he went hungry with his family and almost gave up on football; video|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=30 May 2022|accessdate=1 October 2022}} Daniel Júnior made his first team debut with the Raposa on 5 February 2022, coming on as a late substitute for Matheus Bidu in a 2–1 Campeonato Mineiro away win over Caldense. He scored his first goal for the club seven days later, netting the opener in a 3–0 success at Tombense.{{cite web|url=https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/enm/2022/02/14/daniel-jr-comenta-felicidade-no-cruzeiro-estou-vivendo-um-sonho.htm|title=Daniel Jr comenta felicidade no Cruzeiro: 'Estou vivendo um sonho'|trans-title=Daniel Jr talks about happiness at Cruzeiro: 'I am living a dream'|publisher=UOL Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=14 February 2022|accessdate=1 January 2025}}
Daniel Júnior became a starter under head coach Paulo Pezzolano,{{cite web|url=https://www.lance.com.br/brasileirao/daniel-junior-ganha-destaque-no-equipe-do-cruzeiro-e-confianca-do-tecnico-paulo-pezzolano.html|title=Daniel Júnior ganha destaque no equipe do Cruzeiro e confiança do técnico Paulo Pezzolano|trans-title=Daniel Júnior earns a spotlight at Cruzeiro and the trust of head coach Paulo Pezzolano|publisher=Lance!|language=pt-BR|date=28 April 2022|accessdate=1 January 2025}} but was sent back to the under-20 squad in May 2022, after failing to sign a new contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/futebol/cruzeiro/2022/05/19/noticia_cruzeiro,3970247/daniel-jr-treina-com-sub-20-do-cruzeiro-e-diretor-fala-sobre-renovacao.shtml|title=Daniel Jr treina com sub-20 do Cruzeiro, e diretor fala sobre renovação|trans-title=Daniel Jr trains with the under-20 of Cruzeiro, and director talks about renewal|publisher=Super Esportes|language=pt-BR|date=19 May 2022|accessdate=1 January 2025}} On 26 May, he returned to the first team after signing a new deal until 2025.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/cruzeiro/noticia/2022/05/26/cruzeiro-e-daniel-jr-renovam-contrato-ate-o-fim-de-2025.ghtml|title=Cruzeiro e Daniel Jr. renovam contrato até o fim de 2025|trans-title=Cruzeiro and Daniel Jr. renew contract until the end of 2025|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=26 May 2022|accessdate=1 January 2025}}
After Pezzolano's departure, Daniel Júnior had limited playing time under new head coach Pepa.
==Loan to Akhmat Grozny==
On 11 September 2023, Daniel Júnior joined Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=FC Akhmat Grozny|url=https://fc-akhmat.ru/news/fc-akhmat/klub/akhmat-podpisal-futbolista-iz-chempionata-brazilii-/|title="Ахмат" подписал футболиста из чемпионата Бразилии|trans-title=Akhmat signed a footballer from Brazil championship|date=11 September 2023|access-date=11 September 2023|language=ru}} He made his debut abroad twelve days later, replacing compatriot Camilo in a 1–0 away loss to Baltika Kaliningrad.
Daniel Júnior officially left Akhmat by mutual consent on 9 February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://t.me/akhmatgrozny/5374|title=Футбольный клуб "Ахмат" и бразильский легионер Даниэль Жуниор расторгли контракт по согласию сторон.|trans-title=Football club "Akhmat" and Brazilian legionnaire Daniel Junior terminated the contract by mutual agreement.|publisher=Telegram|work=FC Akhmat Grozny|date=9 February 2024|language=ru}}
=Vitória=
In February 2024, Daniel Júnior signed a three-year deal with Vitória for a rumoured fee of US$ 500,000.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/ba/futebol/noticia/2024/02/11/vitoria-fecha-compra-de-daniel-jr-em-r-25-milhoes-veja-detalhes-da-negociacao-com-o-cruzeiro.ghtml|title=Vitória fecha compra de Daniel Jr. em R$ 2,5 milhões; veja detalhes da negociação com o Cruzeiro|trans-title=Vitória agree transfer of Daniel Jr. in R$ 2.5 million; see details of the negotiation with Cruzeiro|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=|accessdate=1 January 2025}} However, he failed to establish himself as a regular unit at the club.
==Loan to América Mineiro==
On 7 August 2024, Daniel Júnior was announced at América Mineiro on loan until the end of the year.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/america-mg/noticia/2024/08/07/america-mg-anuncia-daniel-jr-ex-vitoria-e-cruzeiro.ghtml|title=América-MG anuncia Daniel Jr., ex-Vitória e Cruzeiro|trans-title=América-MG announce Daniel Jr., formerly of Vitória and Cruzeiro|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=7 August 2024|accessdate=1 January 2025}} He left the club in December, after a loan extension was not agreed.{{cite web|url=https://www.otempo.com.br/sports/america/2024/12/2/america-nao-consegue-acordo-por-permanencia-de-meia-e-continua-a|title=América tenta, mas não consegue renovar empréstimos de três jogadores, que voltam a seus clubes|trans-title=América try, but cannot renew loans of three players, who return to their clubs|publisher=O Tempo|language=pt-BR|date=2 December 2024|accessdate=1 January 2025}}
==Loan to Portuguesa==
On 3 January 2025, Portuguesa announced the signing of Daniel Júnior on loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.portuguesa.com.br/post/daniel-jr-%C3%A9-o-novo-refor%C3%A7o-da-lusa-para-2025|title=Daniel Jr é o novo reforço da Lusa para 2025|trans-title=Daniel Jr is the new addition of Lusa for 2025|publisher=Associação Portuguesa de Desportos|language=pt-BR|date=3 January 2025|accessdate=4 January 2025}}
Career statistics
{{updated|30 January 2025}}{{Soccerway|daniel-de-melo-araujo-junior/815203|Daniel Júnior}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|State league{{efn|Includes Campeonato Mineiro, Campeonato Baiano, Campeonato Paulista}} !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Copa do Brasil, Russian Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3" valign="center"|Cruzeiro
|2022 |25 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 4 | |||
| 2023
|4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!29 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 49 | 5 | |||
| Akhmat Grozny (loan)
|4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Vitória
|2024 |Série A |5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=CDN|Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste}} | 1 | 12 | 3 | ||
| América Mineiro (loan)
|2024 |Série B |9 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 1 | |||||
| Portuguesa (loan)
|2025 |0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!47 | 3 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 82 | 9 |
{{Notelist}}
Honours
Cruzeiro
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Esporte Clube Vitória squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Junior, Daniel}}
Category:Footballers from Santo André, São Paulo
Category:Brazilian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
Category:Russian Premier League players
Category:Cruzeiro Esporte Clube players
Category:FC Akhmat Grozny players
Category:Esporte Clube Vitória players
Category:América Futebol Clube (MG) players
Category:Associação Portuguesa de Desportos players
Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen
{{Brazil-footy-midfielder-2000s-stub}}