Madrid — When Paulinho signed for Barcelona in August from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande, the deal was widely viewed with derision, with both fans and the media doubting the Brazilian had the quality to thrive at Camp Nou. The months since have made his detractors eat humble pie. Paulinho has earned his place in the Barcelona side and has become a crucial part of manager Ernesto Valverde’s system, meaning he is likely to line up against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in Saturday’s Clasico. With Neymar leaving for Paris St Germain, a gap in the side opened up and although Ousmane Dembele was signed from Borussia Dortmund to fill it, the Frenchman’s hamstring injury has kept him sidelined. Although Paulinho, a rugged box-to-box midfielder, does not occupy the same space on the pitch as wingers Neymar and Dembele, he has forced his way into the side. Valverde has changed Barcelona’s formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, with Paulinho’s presence giving the Catalans far greater defens...
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