Jardel, 33, was yesterday unveiled as the new marquee player for Newcastle Jets.

The former Sporting, Galatasaray and Benfica striker was a football legend just a few years ago with a devastating scoring record.

But his career slumped in recent years with issues over Jardel's weight and allegations of drug abuse and depression.

Now though he has promised to recapture his glory years during his time at the Jets - and will be facing up to his Sydney samba rival Juninho.

“I don’t know how he’s been playing in the last few years but he’s a good player and he’s tall and one of the best with the head,” said Juninho. “He has everything to be a success.”

Juninho hopes the current wave of Brazilians entering the league will trigger even more to consider a career in Australia.

“I hope so," he said. "It’s hard for Brazilians because it’s just the beginning of Australian soccer so the people of Brazil now might start to know about it and they’ll have more interest to come.

“Romario was the first. I think people started to know about the soccer here [because of him] and now the clubs and agents can bring more players here.

"If older Brazilians come here and make a good impression, the business will open more.”

Juninho believes Australian players can only benefit from the league’s new Samba influences.

“Each one [Brazilain] has different style,” he said. “I have a completely different style to Jardel, for example.

"I think we have a bit more of a South American way to play with always the ball to the floor.”