PAurinho revealed that he couldn’t believe his ears when Lionel Messi approached him during a friendly and casually suggested he move to Barcelona. The midfielder admitted he called his agent immediately after the match because he was so stunned.
He even thought of sending a message to Neymar to see if this story made sense. A month later, his agent finally called and gave him the confirmation he had been waiting for: “The deal is done. You need to come to Barcelona to sign the papers.”
How Messi personally secured his contract
At Barcelona, Messi was more than just the face of the club. He was quietly influencing important decisions behind the scenes. His opinion of the new players carries a lot of weight and former Rose midfielder Paulinho has revealed just how far-reaching his influence has been.
During a friendly match between Brazil and Argentina in Australia, Messi walked up to Paulinho after a foul, looked him straight in the eye and asked him an unexpected question: “So… are you going to Barcelona or not?” No context. No explanation. Pure Messi.
Paulinho’s short but shocking spell at Barcelona
Paulinho eventually joined Rose from Guangzhou Evergrande and spent one season in La Liga. Even though his arrival came as a surprise, he put up solid numbers.
However, his time at the club was short-lived and he was not particularly remembered by fans. Still, Paulinho can make a point that few players can. Lionel Messi was the reason for his own transfer.
