Atltico approaches agreement with Leverkusen to have Paulinho in January

Atlético approached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to have attacking midfielder Paulinho in January. The information was disclosed by the portal kicker, from Germany. “We are in negotiations,” said Simon Rolfes, the European club’s director of football.

The loan is treated in the German press as imminent. Paulinho never yielded what was expected at Leverkusen, also due to a serious cruciate knee ligament injury in 2020.

The 22-year-old will leave the German club with just 79 competitive appearances in four and a half years, having contributed nine goals and five assists. “It’s important that all the players who are here are fully focused,” said Simon Rolfes when commenting on the deal with Atlético.

Still according to the kicker, Bayer Leverkusen will charge a “six-figure fee”, in euros, for Paulinho’s loan. The amount will not even be close to the amount invested by the club with Vasco, but a form of compensation for the release of the Olympic champion with Brazil.