Forward refused to leave Alvalade in January, but the end of the line could be near
• Photo: Tony Dias
He wanted to stay to help win the national title (his second) and is having his best season in Alvalade (18 goals and direct ‘signature’ in 12 points in the League). Loved by some and criticized by others, Paulinho’s end at Sporting could soon be over.
The experienced striker, aged 31, continues to receive tempting inquiries from clubs in Saudi Arabia. According to Record, after rejecting a transfer in January and last summer, Paulinho now admits to a change of scenery at the end of this season, if a proposal emerges that pleases all parties.
Hired from Sp. Braga in the winter market in 2021, for 16 million euros, the number 20 has a contract valid until 2026 and a termination clause of 60 million which, in practice, could be reduced to 25 M€, due to a clause agreement with the arsenalists.
It determines that, if you refuse an offer equal to or greater than the aforementioned 25 million euros, Frederico Varandas’ administration will have to compensate Sp. Braga at least 7.5 M€, which corresponds to the percentage of the pass (30% ) which is still owned by SAD led by António Salvador.
The Neom project
Before the start of this season, Paulinho refused approaches from Saudi Arabia, as well as from Russians CSKA Moscow, who were willing to invest 7 million euros. As Record reported at an opportune moment, the Saudis returned to action in January and put on the table an annual salary of 5 million clean euros (!), that is, four times more than what the Minho receive in Alvalade and which is around the 1.2 million.
One of the potential interested parties, our newspaper found, could be the new (and million-dollar) Neom project.
He wanted to stay to help win the national title (his second) and is having his best season in Alvalade (18 goals and direct ‘signature’ in 12 points in the League). Loved by some and criticized by others,…
By Ricardo Granada and Vítor Almeida Gonçalves
