Paulinho starts a new chapter in his career

Cruzeiro have appointed former FC Barcelona player Paulinho as the club's executive director, marking a new phase in his career within the corridors of sports management, after he retired from football in September 2024.

Paulinho, aged 38, made a notable impact during his brief stint with FC Barcelona, who signed him in 2017 from Gwangju Evergrande for €40 million. The Brazilian midfielder played 49 official matches for the Catalan club, scoring nine goals and providing three assists, contributing to the team's triumphs in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey during the 2017-2018 season, before returning to the Chinese club in the summer of 2018.

After retiring following his stint with Corinthians, Paulinho moved into an administrative role, joining Mirassol in December 2024 as the technical coordinator before being promoted in June 2025 to the position of executive director of football. He has contributed to the team's journey, which has become one of the standout surprises in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

Paulinho has officially appeared at Cruzeiro's training headquarters, where he spoke about his plans for the upcoming phase, confirming his readiness to take on responsibility and work on developing the club. He said: "It is a great honor and privilege to be here. There is a lot of work to be done, and I will get to know the situation within the club and assess it, and I realize the extent of the responsibility I bear, and I have prepared for that."

He added: "There are two things I always emphasize in my work, which are hard work and respect. I believe that we can, relying on these two principles, move forward step by step and understand the mechanisms of work adopted within the club. I did not come here to change Cruzeiro, but to work and help the club." Cruzeiro is currently in sixth place in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, while Paulinho is prioritizing planning for the 2027 season.