Having starred in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, international midfielder Paulinho came to the end of a long road travelled to make it at the top of the game.  Finishing in the side that won the tournament, the Corinthians player had been watched by Spurs for some time and the club failed in an approach for him in the January 2013 transfer window.

Possessing a good ability in the air at both ends of the pitch, Paulinho is more noted for his energetic performances in working the pitch from end to end.  His stamina and skill blend to make a midfielder who can appear to be everywhere.  His passing is good, he can finish well when in front of the opposition's goal and is not afraid to tackle.  While the fee spent on him was a club record at the time, it looked money well spent ahead of the season to come.

Entering the youth system at his local team Pao de Acucar, he had played only one season in the first team, without being a regular, before he travelled to Lithuania, where he was signed by FC Vilnius.  He played well there, enjoying a good ratio of goals to games, but when the club went down a division at the end of 2007, he was snapped up by LKS Lodz, the second club in the Polish city, behind Widzew.  His spell there was frustrating, playing 15 league games and two cup game sin his only season in Lodz, before returning home to his first team, Pao de Acucar.

His success at his first team was such that Second Division Bragatino bought Paulinho and he had a good season, bringing him to the attention of Corinthians, who initially took him on loan and then completed a permanent signing of the midfielder.  While at Corinthians, Paulinho made the step up to the top division and then into the national side.  Winning the Brazilian League Championship, the Copa Libertadores and then the World Club Cup, his profile increased with his increasing medal tally.  In the summer of 2013, he scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw against England in the Maracana stadium, then scored in the opening game and the semi-final of the Confederations Cup to assist Brazil in winning the tournament and personally take the honour of the Third best player in the competition.

Following this tournament, he sat down to consider his future and he agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that set a new transfer record at just under £17 million at the time.