Former Tottenham flop Paulinho in starring role on return to China averaging a goal a game for Guangzhou Evergrande
Brazil international has netted and incredible eight in eight on loan at CSL side from Barcelona
FORMER Tottenham flop Paulinho is making up for lost time on his return to China with Guangzhou Evergrande.
Following two years with the Chinese club after leaving Spurs in 2015, the Brazilian joined Barcelona in 2017 and helped the Catalan outfit to the domestic double.
But his love affair with China continued and he returned this July on a one-year loan deal with the option of making it permanent after 12 months.
Judging by current performances, the club will be looking to do just that.
Since returning to the Chinese Super League side Paulinho, 30, has bagged himself eight goals in eight appearances and five assists.
The latest on those came on Saturday as Evergrande beat Shandong Luneng 4-1 with Paulinho netting his side’s final goal in the 74th minute.
That result leaves Paulinho’s side third in the table, three points behind leaders Beijing Guoan, with ten games left of the season.
Paulinho is far from the top scorer in the championship with that honour currently going to Wu Lei of second-placed Shanghai East Asia.
The Brazilian, who played for his country at this summer’s World Cup, moved to Tottenham for £17million in 2013 from Corinthians.
But he failed to leave his mark and moved to China in June 2015 for £9.9million.