Tottenham: Paulinho Needs A Break From Football, Not Sold

Paulinho, Tottenham’s Brazilian international midfielder needs a break from football. A chance to recoup and prepare for the coming season. Talk of interest from other clubs should be snubbed as Paulinho’s not for sale.

Paulinho has been playing football almost constantly for the past 18 months. Twelve months ago he was highly acclaimed after Brazil’s win in the Confederations Cup. Immediately after the tournament he made an emotional farewell from Corinthians, his club in Brazil, before his move to England. After a short break he joined up with Tottenham. There he had to adjust to a new club, a new manger, new team-mates and a new country plus the competitiveness and intensity of the Premier League and English football.

In 2013, before signing for Spurs, Paulinho played 25 games for Corinthians.

Busy Year for Paulinho

Paulinho played his first match for Tottenham in the pre-season friendly against Espanyol at White Hart Lane, the weekend before the start of the season. He was a regular in Andre Villas-Boas’ starting line-up through the first half of the season. The only break he had in that period of playing two matches a week, was from the occasional Europa League away trip.

#175930731 / gettyimages.com

Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup Finals this summer were an important part of Paulinho’s season. As Brazil played friendly matches all around the world, Paulinho frequently made long-distance mid-week journeys during the international breaks.

Suspension and injury hit him in mid-season as did the sacking of AVB and the appointment of Tim Sherwood. It was another new manager he had to adjust to. Omitted by Sherwood when he recovered from injury, Paulinho became disenchanted with football in England. We rarely saw the player who had excited us the previous summer when playing for Brazil.

In all competitions, Paulinho played 37 matches for Tottenham.

Off to the World Cup

In early May, immediately after the end of the Premier League season, Paulinho set off for Brazil to prepare for the World Cup Finals. Unfortunately for Paulinho and Brazil, amid the intense expectation in his homeland, he carried his poor Tottenham form into the World Cup. Paulinho failed to impress with many experts querying why he was selected for the Brazil team ahead of players like Fernandinho who had an outstanding debut season with Manchester City.

Eventually, after uninspiring performances, Paulinho lost his place in the Brazil team which would eventually suffer the embarrassment of an ignominious semi-final defeat to Germany.

In the past 18 months, Paulinho has played 24 games for Brazil.

Now that the World Cup is over, Paulinho is taking a short holiday before returning to Tottenham to prepare for the new season. It was even suggested that Paulinho would meet up with the squad during the pre-season tour to North America which finishes at the end of the month.

Paulinho: Time For a Rest

In my opinion, after such a hectic schedule over the last 18 months, Paulinho is in need of a break from football. In total he has played 86 matches for Corinthians, Tottenham and Brazil. He now needs an opportunity to rest, recharge his batteries and rediscover his appetite and enthusiasm for the game.

Offers For Paulinho

Media reports suggest that clubs are interested in taking Paulinho from Tottenham. Chelsea were interested before the end of the season and recently, the Italian champions, Juventus were reported to be prepared to offer £20m for Paulinho who cost Tottenham £17.5 m a year ago.

Tottenham need to reject any offers which might be made for Paulinho. He needs to be given him the chance to prove himself under Mauricio Pochettino and see if the manager can help him rediscover his best form.

Home/Tottenham News