By Jorge Hernandez
Jun 27, 2024, 04:05 AM EDT
The Portuguese Joao Paulo Días Fernandes, better known as Paulinho, fourth top scorer in the last season of his country’s league, He was announced this Wednesday as the new forward of the Red Devils of Toluca.
“Nine is here. Welcome, Paulinho!”announced the third team with the most league titles in Mexico, on their social networks.
At 31 years old, the attacker from Sporting Lisbon will land in Mexican football after being the four best scorer in the Portuguese championship, in which with 15 goals he tied in that department with Cristo, from Arouca; Samuel Essende, from Vizela, and Jhonder Cádiz, from FC Famalicao.
In Toluca, which boasts 10 local league titles, he will be directed by his compatriot Renato Paiva, key in his signing with the club that has as its other foreign figures the Chilean midfielder Jean Meneses, the Uruguayan center back Federico Pereira and the Brazilian goalkeeper Tiago Volpi.
Paulinho He will live his first experience outside of his country’s footballin which he played for Santa María FC, CD Trofense, Gil Vicente FC, Braga and Sporting, for whom he signed in January 2021 and in which in 145 games he scored 53 goals and gave 28 assists.
In addition to fulfilling the role as a center forward, the Portuguese can serve as a playmaker and left winger, which makes him a multifunctional player for Paiva.
Toluca was the third best classified in the regular phase of the last tournament, Clausura 2024, in which it was the best offensive with 38 goals scored in 17 games, but was eliminated in the first round of the final phase, the quarterfinals.
Paulinho aims to strengthen his powerful attacking arsenal from the team debut in the Apertura 2024, on July 6 next to visit the Chivas del Guadalajara, on the first day.
*With information from EFE.
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