"So, are we going to Barcelona or not?"

The protagonist of this story is the Brazilian Paulinho. During a friendly match between Argentina and Brazil in Australia, the midfielder was preparing to take a free kick alongside Willian when Messi interrupted him with a direct question that left him frozen.

Leo approached me, looked me in the eyes, and blurted out: 'So, are we going to Barcelona or not?'. Just like that, without any preamble," Paulinho confessed in an interview with Barca Universal.

At the time, Paulinho was playing for Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League, a destination that seemed to put him far off the radar of European giants. The Brazilian admitted that, in the moment, he thought Messi was joking, perhaps trying to distract him before he kicked the ball.

From Incredulity to the Signing

The doubt was so overwhelming that Paulinho didn’t even wait to reach the locker room to seek answers. Gripped by panic and excitement, he immediately contacted his agent: "Tell me if this is real or if I’m going crazy!" he demanded. He even considered texting Neymar to confirm the rumors.

A month later, Messi’s prophecy came true. His agent called the midfielder to confirm that the deal was done. Paulinho touched down in Barcelona—not because of a conventional scouting report, but because of the direct blessing of the "No. 10.

A Brief but Effective Stride

Although his stay in Barcelona was short-lived (only the 2017-2018 season), Paulinho's stats silenced his initial critics:

• Goals: 9
• Assists: 3
• Titles: LaLiga and Copa del Rey Champion.

Despite not being a "signing for the ages," the Brazilian more than delivered before returning to China. He left behind lasting proof that when Messi wanted someone on his team, a single look and a phrase in the center circle were all it took.

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