Last update 9 August, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
When Barcelona signed him in the summer of 2017 a tab near the 50 million euros were few who threw their hands to the head. It was a player who came from the Chinese league but nothing was removed there was not a lot footballer. In fact it was an important player with potential and good career. In fact it was fixed with the Brazilian national team with which he had marveled at the Confederations Cup 2013 and had participated in the Brazil World Cup 2014.
Paulinho, the revelation signing Barca
He starred a millionaire transfer when Tottenham signed in 2013 but few people know how his career started this Brazilian who came to Barca when nobody expected and who has more than fulfilled in his first season as Barca. It is almost minor, He had to leave his native Sao Paolo, to play at a lower level leagues, antagonistic countries in his native Brazil as Lithuania and Poland.
It was discovered by Algimantas Breikstas president of the FC Vilnius in the famous U-19 Cup in Sao Paolo. So in the year 2005 with scarcely 17 years, Paulinho packed his bags to play in the Lithuanian capital in a club that was not at all one of the largest in the Baltic country. He could not debut until midway through the season because the Lithuanian Federation play did not let foreigners who were minors.
He ended up playing the last games of that season and started the following as a full member of FC Vilnius. He became a fixture in the Lithuanian club but could not avoid relegation the second Lithuanian division. His good performances in the FC Vilnius came to a nearby country with a somewhat league level, Poland, and thus the LKS Lodz became interested in his services.
This experience in Poland was so bad that just for Paulinho 20 years was raised to stop playing football professionally. He returned to Brazil to his home club and from there his career was being a star growing in Brazil and one of the best players in the Premier until he decided to go to China in a decision that few people understand given his youth. Barca recovered for the elite and he was right and Paulinho shut many mouths, especially for those people who have not seen or seen a lot of football if you get your team.