Paulinho leaves Barcelona and re-signs for Guangzhou Evergrande in Chinese Super League as Brazilian returns to Far East
The Brazil international had a superb season at the Nou Camp and started for Samba Boys at the World Cup but has re-joined Evergrande in £44.2m deal
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PAULINHO has left Barcelona and returned to the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou Evergrande in a £44.2million deal.
The Brazil international started for Tite's side at the World Cup and scored, after a superb season at the Nou Camp.
And he is bound to raise eyebrows with his latest move at the age of 29, but he returns to the club where he played 63 league games between 2015 and 2017 after leaving Tottenham three years ago.
Paulinho netted nine times during Barca's march to the La Liga title last season and was favoured ahead of Fred, Fernandinho and Fabinho in Brazil's World Cup midfield.
He has also scored 12 goals in 47 international caps, no small return for a player who would walk into virtually any side in the world.
But now he will ply his trade back in the CSL, where he will be on another mega-money contract.
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Ernesto Valverde's side also won the Copa Del Rey last season, and Barcelona are understood to have made a sizeable profit after the big-money offer from the CSL club.
Fabio Cannovaro is the manager at Evergrande and they are currently fifth in the CSL table after 11 games, while matches have been paused for the duration of the World Cup.
Paulinho should be back in time for his side's fixture against Guizhou Zhicheng on July 18.
