Ex-Spurs star Paulinho is determined to return to Europe after terminating his contract with Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande… as he talks up Barcelona return by insisting money ‘would NOT be a problem’ amid Catalans’ financial woes
- Paulinho spent the 2017-18 season at Barcelona, scoring nine goals in 49 games
- His time in LaLiga was sandwiched between two Guangzhou Evergrande spells
- The midfielder, 32, mutually agreed to terminate his Chinese Super League deal
- The ex-Tottenham and Brazil star is now eyeing a return to European football
Former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho insists he ‘would be delighted’ to return to the club after being released from his contract at Guangzhou Evergrande.
The 32-year-old midfielder spent the 2017-18 season with the Catalan giants, a campaign which was sandwiched in between two spells in the Chinese Super League.
The former Tottenham and Brazil midfielder scored nine goals in 49 appearances for Barcelona as they won the double before returning to Guangzhou in 2018.
Paulinho insists he ‘would be delighted’ to return to Barcelona after being released from his contract at Guangzhou Evergrande
The former Tottenham midfielder agreed to mutually terminate his Chinese Super League deal
He won the league in China three times during his two spells before mutually agreeing to cancel his deal earlier this month due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Paulinho has now hinted that he would be keen on a return to European football, and admitted he would cherish a return to Barcelona, insisting their financial issues would not impede a move.
‘Barca is a team that I know well,’ he told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
‘I spent an unforgettable year there, both at the club and in the city, and we won the league and the Copa del Rey.
And he insists he would cherish a return to Barcelona and play under boss Ronald Koeman
‘If I had another chance, and it was something good for both me and my family, I would be delighted.
‘For me, the issue of money nor the duration of the contract would be a problem, it never has been, especially if Barca is the team that calls you.
‘I already showed it when I left Guangzhou to go there [Barcelona] earning much less than what I received in China.
‘I’ve never put money ahead [of everything] in my career, so that wouldn’t be a problem going back there. Also, this time the club would not have to pay a transfer fee for me.’
The former Brazil international scored nine goals in 49 appearances for Barcelona
At the start of February, Barcelona’s debt was considered to be around £1billion – meaning major transfers are unlikely to take place this summer.
Furthermore, four audits are underway to determine the extent of Barcelona’s financial woes.
The club have already signed Manchester City duo Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero and Lyon captain Memphis Depay on free transfers, but president Joan Laporta admitted earlier this week the Catalan club’s finances are in a worse state than he initially thought.
‘The club is worse than I expected, and I expected it to be in a difficult situation,’ Laporta told La Vanguardia.
Joan Laporta admitted the Catalan club’s finances are in a worse state than he initially thought
‘There are some contracts that greatly limit us. There are things that will have to be explained and I won’t rule out any measures.
‘Everything will be explained, because otherwise we would be accomplices. The same people always appear in the contracts.’
Meanwhile, the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and striker Martin Braithwaite have been linked with exits this summer, with the club’s priority sealing the future of Lionel Messi.
