Barcelona confirm activation of Paulinho’s purchase clause
Guangzhou Evergrande have completed a permanent move for Paulinho.
Barcelona made the shock decision to sign Paulinho from Guangzhou Evergrande for €40 million in the 2017 summer transfer window, but it turned out to be a smart move because he brought qualities to the team that the other Barcelona midfielders didn’t possess such as physicality and intelligent third-man runs to draw attention away from the attackers.
His spell at Barca was brief though as the club decided to loan him back to Guangzhou in the summer with a permanent option which was expected to be activated. According to a statement from the club, the Chinese club have activated the purchase clause ahead of the new season. The fee hasn’t been announced but it’s rumoured to be more than they paid.
He only joined the club midway through the season but had a substantial impact with 13 goals and seven assists in 19 games, however, it wasn’t enough to catch up with Shanghai SIPG who ended up winning the title. His spell with Tottenham earlier in his career was hugely disappointing, but he has rebuilt his reputation with his time in China and at Barcelona which saw him rewarded with a starting spot in the Brazilian national team at the 2018 World Cup.
Barcelona effectively replaced him with Arturo Vidal in the summer who is a much better player, so they don’t miss his skillset but he was certainly useful during the 2017/18 season when Ernesto Valverde had to rebuild the team in the wake of Neymar’s blockbuster transfer to PSG. He helped make the 4-4-2 system a success because of how effectively they were able to counter-press as well as how hard they were to break down.
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His transfer helps fund some of the deals in the summer such as Malcom and Clement Lenglet, so overall his stint at the club was positive even if it was limited. It also proves that unorthodox transfers can work in the right conditions.