Paulinho revealed that he couldn’t believe his ears when Lionel Messi approached him during a friendly match and casually suggested a move to Barcelona. The midfielder admitted he was so stunned that he immediately called his agent after the game: “Boss, for God’s sake, I’m going crazy! Tell me if this is real or not!”
He even considered texting Neymar to check if the story made any sense. One month later, his agent finally called back with the confirmation he had been desperately waiting for: “The deal is done. You need to come to Barcelona to sign the papers.”
How Messi Personally Helped Secure the Signing
At Barcelona, Messi wasn’t just the face of the club-he quietly influenced key decisions behind the scenes. His opinion on new signings carried enormous weight, and former Barça midfielder Paulinho has now revealed just how far that influence reached.
During a friendly between Brazil and Argentina in Australia, Messi walked up to Paulinho after a foul, looked him straight in the eyes, and dropped the unexpected question: “So… are we going to Barcelona or not?” No context. No explanation. Pure Messi.
Paulinho’s Short but Impactful Spell in Barcelona
Paulinho eventually joined Barça from Guangzhou Evergrande, spending one season in LaLiga. Despite the surprise surrounding his arrival, he delivered solid numbers:
- 10 goals
- 6 assists
However, his time at the club was brief and not especially wellremembered by fans. Still, Paulinho can claim something few players can: Lionel Messi personally triggered his transfer.
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