Guangzhou Evergrande's Paulinho is out with a thigh injury
Guangzhou Evergrande's Paulinho is out with a thigh injury AFP / STR

KEY POINTS

  • Paulinho has expressed a desire to return to Barcelona
  • His first stint with the club ended with a domestic double
  • Barca will be evaluating its options at midfield after Wijnaldum's signing with PSG

Former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho has expressed a desire to return to the La Liga giants after spending the past two years in China.

The Brazilian was released from his contract with Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande after mutual agreements were had in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paulinho’s first stint with Barca came in 2017 after his first run with the Evergrande.

The club purchased him for €40 million ($47.8 million) in the same year that they sold Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.

Conventional thinking dictates that Paulinho would be the type of player to ask for big money due to his stature as a player.

Paulinho had this to say, “For me, the issue of money or the duration of the contract wouldn’t be a problem, it never has been, and less so if Barca is the team that calls you.”

Hernanes & Paulinho
Hernanes (L) will replace Paulinho when Brazil take on Italy. Reuters

“I already showed it when I left Guangzhou [by going] there [and] charging much less than I received in China. I’ve never put money ahead of my career, so that wouldn’t be a problem to go back there (referring to Barca). Also, this time, the club wouldn’t have to pay a transfer [fee] for me.”

A return to Barca would be a more than welcome move for the Spanish side as they were spurned by Georginio Wijnaldum, who decided to go to France and sign with PSG.

He was an integral part of the team in securing a domestic double in the form of the La Liga trophy and the Copa del Ray during the 2017-2018 season.

Reports indicate that Barca is still looking to sign a midfielder as they have completed the signing of attacking winger Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero.

However, an important question looms in the air for Barca: how will he fit?

Paulinho is a more physical midfielder compared to past Barca’s midfield greats such as Xavi and Andres Iniesta who were more technically skilled rather than physical.

The Brazilian isn’t getting any younger as well. He’ll be turning 33 on July 25 and there’s not much else to expect from a player his age.

Barca may have an ace up their sleeve this whole time and no one would know it, but for now, Paulinho has his eyes set on a return to the Blaugrana and that is more than enough for the club's fans.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus