Barcelona midfielder Paulinho has scored more than Eden Hazard and as many as Dele Alli in 2017 to prove he’s no longer a Tottenham flop
Brazilian was subject of heavy ridicule when he moved to Nou Camp days after Neymar's departure but continues to impress
PAULINHO joined Barcelona this summer amid much ridicule — but has taken to life with the Spanish giants like a Brazilian to Samba.
The former Tottenham midfielder was confirmed just days after Neymar had left the Nou Camp, his arrival appearing to symbolise the club's demise.
Yet, he has built a good rapport with Lionel Messi and the all-important second against Athletic Bilbao last night was his third in the colours of Barcelona.
Paulinho, 29, now has 20 for the calendar year 2017 — which is the same as Dele Alli and six more than Eden Hazard.
As well as three for the Catalans, he has 12 for Guangzhou Evergrande and five for Brazil which demonstrates he has a keen eye for goal.
All of his international goals in 2017 have come in World Cup qualifiers with strikers against Chile and Ecuador as well as a hat-trick away at Uruguay.
Paulinho joined a club supposedly in disarray — and his signing was considered a marker of just how low the club had fallen.
But, with Neymar gone, Luis Suarez suffering an unprecedented barren run in front of goal and £97m Ousmane Dembele injured, the Brazilian has stepped up.
STALK TO WALK Fabio Quagliarella’s stalker hell which led to ‘traitorous’ departure from Napoli to Juventus — he was falsely accused of paedophilia and links to Mafia
His first four appearances were all as a late substitute, meaning his first goal came after just 39 minutes of official action — a late winner as the Catalans were toiling at Getafe.
And his second came 38 minutes into his first start as Barcelona demolished Eibar 6-1 in the very next game.
most read in football
Paulinho's third goal — in a third different strip — came in the closing stages of the 2-0 victory at Athletic, which made it nine wins from ten with one draw.
Barcelona are still unbeaten this season and are sitting pretty at the top of La Liga — four ahead of second-place Valencia, with Real Madrid eight adrift.
While they boast a 100 per cent record in Champions League with three wins from three.