Barcelona midfielder Paulinho has spoken out about his “difficult” spell with Tottenham.
The Brazil international joined Spurs from Corinthians in 2013 and after failing to settle into life at the club, he eventually left in 2015 to join Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande in 2015.
After being recalled to the Brazil national team, Paulinho surprisingly earned himself a move to Barcelona during the summer transfer window.
Many doubted whether the 29-year old would be able to shine for the Spanish giants considering his failed spell with Tottenham however he has since performed solidly.
Paulinho has since spoken out about his spell with Spurs and said: “I wouldn’t say it was a relief to leave Spurs but it was clear I had to.
“It was a difficult time. Villas-Boas bought me in July 2013 and in December Villas-Boas goes. He’d wanted me, we’d spoken a lot, and then six months later Tim Sherwood was in charge.
“There was no problem with him – he was very young, a good coach – but the team wasn’t doing well and he came under pressure to change things. He did things a little differently but I still played the last eight or nine games that season.”
