Player Profile

Juan lost out on bragging rights to three of his fellow Brazilian back-four after his side Roma were pipped to the Serie A title and Coppa Italia by Inter, with their trio of Julio Cesar, Maicon and Lucio.

Since 2004 he has formed a brilliant partnership for Brazil at the back alongside Lucio, who used to be his team-mate at Bayer Leverkusen.

He captained the national side to victory at the 2004 and 2007 Copa America tournaments, played every match at the 2006 World Cup and appeared in 10 qualifiers ahead of South Africa.

He had a highly successful spell with his first club, Flamengo, winning four Campeonato Carioca winners' medals. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 but could not help them shake off their Bayer ‘Neverkusen’ tag as they failed to break their trophy duck.

After five years he cemented a reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s finest defenders and Roma were delighted to bring him to the Italian capital.

He scored a spectacular volley on only his third appearance for the Giallorossi, but was hampered by a series of niggly injuries in his early days at the club.