JUNINHO has been left in limbo because of fraud allegations against Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil.

Middlesbrough are still trying to set up talks with Gil to discuss a possible permanent move for Juninho, whose loan spell at the Riverside Stadium officially ended yesterday.

Boro boss Bryan Robson has refused to meet cash-strapped Atletico's £6m asking price and wants to negotiate a knock-down deal for the Brazilian crowd favourite.

Robson, who abandoned plans to fly to Madrid for talks at the end of last season, said: ''We're still waiting for the president of Madrid to come back to us about when we can go out to meet him.

"He's got a court case hanging over his head, so he's finding it difficult to fit us in at the moment.

"But we want to take things forward and we'll go out there as quickly as we can.

"There'll be a time this summer when we can sit down with Gil and see where Atletico are coming from. All we can do is get that meeting.''

Fallen giants Atletico, relegated from Spain's Primera Liga, are desperate to recoup as much as they can of the £12m they paid Boro for Juninho almost three years ago.

Juninho returned to his native Sao Paulo at the end of the season to have a plate removed from the ankle he broke around six months after his arrival in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Robson has had talks with Aston Villa defender Steve Watson about a proposed £2.5m return to the North-East.

Boro's interest in the former Newcastle star was revealed in EchoSPORT three months ago. North Shields-born Watson, 26, has also spoken to Everton.

Luton Town, managed by former Boro boss Lennie Lawrence, are understood to be interested in goalkeeper Ben Roberts, who has quit the Riverside on a Bosman free.

Bishop Auckland-born Roberts was on loan at Luton last season.