Brazilian midfielder Paulinho has described his final season at Tottenham Hotspur as “the worst moment” of his career. Paulinho joined Spurs from Corinthians in the summer of 2013 on the back of a strong performance as a goalscoring midfielder in the Confederations Cup. He started strongly at Tottenham, scoring a last minute winner away at Cardiff in his first month.
However, his form began to tail off and gradually, he lost his place in the Brazil side and then the Tottenham team. During 2014-15, he barely played at all and when he did he looked a shadow of the enterprising, box to box midfielder he had been previously.
During the summer, he joined Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande, managed by ex Seleção boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. Evergrande face Barcelona in the World Club Cup semi-final today and Paulinho told the press that he has unfavourable memories of his time in London.
“I was unhappy in England; the last months were the worst moment of my career. I was unhappy and my family was not right. The chance to work with Scolari appeared, in a team where there were other Brazilians, and I chose the option of playing in China.”
Guangzhou have compatriots Alan, Elkeson, Ricardo Goulart, René Junior and Robinho in the current squad, which will have aided the 27 year old’s transition in the Chinese Superleague.
