Paulinho looks to Europe

Corinthians midfielder Paulinho said he is keen for a move to Europe, after winning the Campeonato Brasileiro last season.

The 23-year-old arrived at Corinthians in 2010, and after a solid first season he shined in the club’s championship winning campaign the following year.

Paulinho notched eight goals in 35 games to become the side’s second-highest scorer, as Corinthians pipped Vasco da Gama to the title on the final day of the season.

He is under contract until 2014 with the Brazilians; but as clubs from across Europe are rumoured to be interested, he admitted that he was looking abroad.

“I am going to work hard so that I can go to any country in European football. I hope that God can guide me there one day,” the midfielder told Goal.com.

He went on to state that, despite supposed interest from clubs including Roma, Udinese and Milan, no formal approach materialised.

“(In the past year) I did not have any concrete offers so when the Campeonato Brasileiro finished I said I would stay, because I did not have anything official in my hands,” he said.

Of all his admirers, Paulinho confessed that he was most flattered by the interest from San Siro.

“(The interest from Milan) makes me very happy. I have to thank God for the hard work I have been doing, for the opportunity I had in Corinthians and for the confidence everyone has in me from the moment I arrived,” he said.

“From there you see that good things happen, and people come to watch your football. That motivates me to be better every day.”