Despite coming up with the goods on the pitch, managing 11 goals from midfield last season and already has 3 from 9 outings this season, Paulinho’s off-pitch activities have landed him in hot water, and he now risks being deported from the country.
Paulinho is more than likely to face questions from his Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande and authorities after agreeing to endorse Letou, an Asian betting company which targets China, where betting is illegal.
Most professional football leagues around the world ban footballers from betting on any football match and FIFA now prohibits all professional players from having any involvement in the industry, so Paulinho’s decision to back Letou is ill-advised.
He then made matters worse for himself when he was snapped happily standing alongside the Japanese porn star Tsukasa Aoi – with pornography also against the law in China.
The footage of a smiling Paulinho with Aoi was recorded at his home in China, with his endorsement of the company surely made even worse by the fact that he is a married Catholic.
Paulinho is now at risk of being deported from the country after effectively breaking two laws, although so far there has been no word on whether he will be prosecuted by the Chinese government.
If he is forced to leave the Chinese Super League there will be no shortage of clubs lining up to sign him. Paulinho has reportedly become Bayern’s priority signing for this summer after his impressive on-pitch performances.