Paulinho expected to leave Bayer Leverkusen in January for Atlético Mineiro | OneFootball

Paulinho is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen this winter instead of the summer. The Brazilian’s contract expires in 2023 but Leverkusen and Paulinho are looking at a mutual termination, meaning he is free to join any club.

According to Globo Esporte, the club Paulinho will join is Atlético Mineiro, with the Brazilian club interested in bringing in Paulinho in the winter as well as it will allow him to play in the Brazilian State Championship.

The 22-year-old missed the last few games of the season with a cold and returned to Brazil, also missing Leverkusen’s tour of the US. Leverkusen signed Paulinho from Vasco de Gama in Brazil for €18.5m in 2018.

The forward played a total of 79 games for die Werkself and scored nine goals. He last made an appearance for Leverkusen in their 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League whilst his last goal came in the 4-0 win against Schalke, which was Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge.