Football Tribe SEA Editor
Former Buriram United and Kashima Antlers striker Pedro Junior has been linked with a move to Samut Prakan City ahead of the 2020 Thai League season.
The Sea Fang were left needing a new forward after Ibson Melo, who scored 15 goals from 25 games for the side last season, couldn’t agree a contract renewal with the club and moved to Sukhothai earlier this month.
This move would reunite Pedro with his first coach at Kashima Antlers, Masatada Ishii, who is now in charge of Samut Prakan. The two spent the first half of the 2017 season together before Ishii was dismissed following a string of poor results.
Pedro Junior struggled with Buriram during the first half of the 2019 campaign and was released in the mid-season transfer window. However, he was burdened with the expectation of replacing the goal output of Buriram legend Diogo Luis Santo, and the task was made all the more difficult when strike partner Modibo Maïga was released early in the season.
The Brazilian forward spent the second half of the 2019 season in the UAE Pro League with Khor Fakkan, but only played a bit-part role with the side. Set to turn 33 before the start of the upcoming Thai League season, some fans are skeptical of the move, but Pedro Junior will likely welcome the opportunity to prove himself in Thailand.