HONG KONG: Former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona midfielder Paulinho has withdrawn from Guangzhou Evergrande's squad for the up-coming Asian Champions League tournament in Qatar due to a thigh injury, the Brazilian announced on social media.
The 31-year-old, who was his club’s top scorer this season as they finished runners-up in the Chinese Super League, is expected to be replaced in the squad by compatriot Ricardo Goulart.
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Paulinho has been a key member of the Guangzhou squad since joining the club from Tottenham in 2015, helping them to their second Asian title in 2015 and claiming Chinese Super League titles in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Guangzhou, coached by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, kick off their Asian Champions League campaign on November 22 against South Korea's Suwon Bluewings.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by MIchael Perry)
