Paulinho takes controversial decision to treat foot injury
The player has been granted permission to bring in his own personal physiotherapist, Caio Mello. The hairline fracture he suffered is still causing him pain.
Paulinho's performance levels have dropped during recent games. Whether that is directly related to the hairline fracture he suffered to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot or not, the player has clearly been suffering discomfort. He has decided to hire the services of Corinthians physiotherapist Caio Mello, who has also worked with the Brazil national team, to help ease the pain he is experiencing when playing.
World Cup on the horizon
The tiny fracture which the player sustained in last month's Copa del Rey quarter final against Espanyol is believed to have now healed but the pains persist. Paulinho was granted permission by Barcelona to bring in Caio Mello. Paulinho is aware that the team is now entering a crucial stage of the campaign and that it is also a World Cup year. He's a first choice for Brazil coach Tite and the last thing he wants is an untimely setback to spoil his dreams of starring at 2018 Russia, in which the Seleção will be aiming to lift the trophy for the sixth time.
Sources close to the player in Brazil have also suggested that Paulinho wasn't too happy with the club's diagnosis. For several days, he was unable to put any kind of pressure on his injured foot. However, that doesn't match up with the player's own decision to take pain-killing injections which allow him to continue playing in Barça's league games. As it stands, he will feature in the squad list for tomorrow's away game at Eibar.
