Brazil’s World Cup star Paulinho writes career ‘was in the grave’ but not at Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande

Barcelona midfielder pens 3,000-word essay on the hardest points of his career before earning Russia 2018 nod from old Corinthians coach Tite

Reading Time:3 minutes

Brazil’s Paulinho (15) celebrates after scoring a goal against Serbia. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:04pm, 2 Jul 2018Updated: 8:04pm, 2 Jul 2018

Brazil’s World Cup star midfielder Paulinho, who scored their opening goal in the 2-0 win over Serbia that sealed qualification for the round of 16, has written about his career on the Players’ Tribune website.

The former Tottenham Hotspur player revealed that Lionel Messi was the first person to mention a possible move to Barcelona from Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, during an international friendly between Brazil and Argentina in Australia.

Paulinho writes that he forgot all about it as he was “enjoying” his football in the CSL and his lifestyle in China: “My wife and I had an amazing life there, and I was playing really good football. Before the Barça rumours, I was totally at peace there.”

Paulinho opens the scoring against Serbia. Photo: EPA

The Barcelona number 15 writes that anyone who thinks his swapping Guangdong for Catalonia is crazy doesn’t know the half of a career that took its first steps in Lithuania, where he endured racial abuse, and nearly quit the game at 19.

Now, a decade on, Paulinho is at the World Cup in Russia and one of the first names on the teamsheet for Brazil manager Tite, a coach who mentored him during his time at Corinthians.