Brazil star admits he'd be 'delighted' with Barca return

Martin Macdonald

Updated: 24 Jun 2021 10:30 BST
5 min read

© ProShots - Neymar and Paulinho, Brazil

Brazil international Paulinho says he would be "delighted" to return to Barcelona should the Blaugrana come calling this summer.

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In the summer of 2017, Barcelona made the surprise purchase of Paulinho from Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande for €40 million.

Even though he would only spend one season at Camp Nou, he helped the club to a domestic double of the Liga title and the Copa del Rey title.

Paulinho, who has made 56 appearances for Brazil, would subsequently leave Barcelona to return to Guangzhou initially on loan before on a permanent basis.

He initially came in during the same month that compatriot Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain in a world record transfer.

Clearly, Paulinho still has a place in his heart for Barcelona.

“Barca are a team I know well,” he told 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. If I had another chance, and it was a good thing for both me and my family, I would be delighted [to return].”

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 - Paulinho

Could Paulinho return to Barcelona?

It is certainly not out of the question for Paulinho to return to Barcelona as he is now a free agent after leaving Guangzhou and that is the market in which the Catalan side are currently shopping in.

After failing to sign Georginio Wijnaldum, who moved to PSG, they are in need of personnel in midfield.

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Any deal to bring Paulinho back would likely be on a much reduced salary due to the financial state of the club at the moment, but the Brazilian claims he doesn't care about the money.

“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.

“I already demonstrated this 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. Also, this time the club wouldn't have to pay a transfer [fee] for me.”