Atletico Madrid youngster Marcos Paulo is reportedly set to leave Spain 12 months after the winger snubbed Arsenal and Leeds United for a move to the UEFA Champions League side.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the 21-year-old attacker will soon return to his native Brazil to sign for Sao Paulo just one year after Atletico won the race to sign Paulo from Fluminense, who according to TeamTalk was on Arsenal and Leeds’ radar in 2021.
A Portuguese youth international but born in Brazil, the wonderkid has not made a single senior appearance for Atletico since joining the club last year, with Paulo spending his entire time in Europe out on loan for the likes of FC Famalicao and CD Mirandes.
Despite arriving with a huge reputation, the attacker is now set to return to Brazil having made a minimal impact with Atletico, with Paulo himself now likely regretting not signing for a Premier League club like Arsenal or Leeds.
Indeed, both English sides have had immense success with South American youngsters in recent years, with Gabriel Martinelli one of Arsenal’s most important players and Leeds recently having Raphinha on their books before the Brazilian signed for FC Barcelona earlier in the year.
However, Paulo’s decision has been made with the attacker now set to leave Spain for Sao Paulo. Yet given the winger’s age, there’s every chance the youngster could one day return to Europe if the 21-year-old can regain his form that made the prospect once so exciting.
Marcos Paulo leaving Atletico could be a masterstroke
The leap from South America to Europe is one that can make or break a talent, and for Paulo, the decision to return to Brazil is one that has the potential to redefine the Arsenal and Leeds target’s career for the better, with Atletico proving to be a bad move for the winger.
After all, the youngster has failed to make the grade at the Wanda Metropolitano, and time back in Brazil where Paulo will play regular football is exactly what the forward needs to get his promising career back on track for good.
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