Barcelona lends Paulinho to former club Guangzhou

BARCELONA has loaned midfielder Paulinho, a starter in the Brazil side knocked out by Belgium in the World Cup last eight, to former club Guangzhou Evergrande, the Chinese Super League champion said on Sunday.

“Guangzhou Evergrande confirms Paulinho has returned to the club after one season at Barcelona,” the club tweeted. Paulinho, who is 29, first joined Guangzhou from Tottenham Hotspur in 2015, playing 84 matches and scoring 22 goals before leaving for Barcelona in 2017. He scored nine goals in 34 La Liga appearances for the Catalan giant last season. “FC Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande have reached an agreement for the loan transfer of Paulinho Bezerra for one season, with a mandatory purchase option for the Chinese club,” Barcelona said on its website earlier.