Paulinho endured a difficult first season in England with Tottenham Hotspur but has been reassured by Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari that he’ll be one of the first names on his team sheet during the World Cup.
The former Corinthians midfielder didn’t settle at White Hart Lane like he might have expected but will be delighted to learn of Scolari’s latest comments.
The Brazil manager was addressing the media at a press conference and confirmed that the Spurs midfielder would be in his starting XI.
Daily Mirror quoted Scolari, he said: “I said to him: ‘Paulinho, you’re not playing much, but that doesn’t worry me. You’ll be starting.’
“He had tears in his eyes. I had to show my confidence in him.”
Scolari has always reaffirmed to the media that Paulinho’s lack of playing time at Tottenham wouldn’t effect his World Cup chances and he has stayed true to his word.
Now Paulinho has been given this backing, he hope to replicate his performances from the 2013 Confederations Cup where he scored several crucial goals and was voted the third best player at the tournament.
