REPUBLIC of Ireland striker David Connolly has made a surprise move into top-class European football by joining Dutch club Feyenoord.

Connolly (20), who was out of contract at Graham Taylor's Watford, has signed a lucrative, four-year deal with the Rotterdam club, said to be worth Pounds 12,000 in wages per week, on a transfer under the Bosman ruling.

The announcement of Connolly's overnight move will not please officials at French club Strasbourg who were confident they had completed a deal with the rising star. English first division side Wolverhampton

Wanderers had offered Pounds 1.5 million, while relegated Sunderland were also said to be interested.

Connolly, who has been capped six times by the Republic, emerged as a player of some quality at the end of the 1995-96 season. He first made an international impact under Mick McCarthy during last summer's four-nation tournament in the US. His five goals for Ireland included a hat-trick in the World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The London-born striker, whose parents are from Galway and Leitrim, missed much of the early part of last season through injury, and was then in dispute with Watford over renewing his contract.

Last night Watford admitted they were in the dark about Connolly's move. A Vicarage Road spokesman said they had had no contact with the player and were unable to confirm whether he had left the club.

Meanwhile, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid appeared to be locked in a tug- of-war for Juninho last night.

Middlesbrough revealed yesterday that they had accepted Tottenham's Pounds 11 million offer for the 24-year-old midfielder and it was up to Juninho whether he agreed personal terms.

But a report in Spain's leading sports daily, Marca, muddied the waters by claiming that Atletico had made a "last minute agreement" worth Pounds 12.5 million.

Atletico Madrid general director Miguel Angel Gil told the Spanish news agency EFE in the next few hours we will complete the signing of Juninho.

"Right now there is only a verbal agreement with the player. But this morning I spoke with Middlesbrough and everything is proceeding as planned," he claimed.

Bobby Robson has finally pledged himself to Barcelona for another season at least. The former England manager is stepping down as coach to be replaced by Luis van Gaal.

Instead Robson's role at the Nou Camp will be as director of recruitment and transfers.