Paulinho talks about suffering racism when playing in Lithuania

Paulinho's sporting career has not been easy. The Barcelona midfielder has played for many clubs, in many countries and has become a genuine globetrotter. In an extensive interview with Marcos Lopez and Joan Domenech in El Periodico, he has spoken about his career. 

Among other things, Paulinho explained an episode which happened in Lithuania. In 2006, when he was 19, he moved to the country to play football. It was an adventure with a team called Vilnius, where there were other Brazilians at the club. 

Paulinho needed help economically from his parents. "In the ened, between Lithuania and Poland, I was away from home for three and a half years. I arrived at Vilnius alone. I lived with a Brazilian player, but it doesn't stop you being alone. You've left behind your family, your friends, everything you had in Sao Paulo... They were seven or eight tough months. My girlfriend came in the end and I eventually left for Poland after suffering a lot of racism," he explained. 

"Everything was going well, into those episodes of racism. What did they say to me? The usual, in these cases, you know. That marked me forever. It didn't just happen to me, but to many of my teammates. I suffered a lot with racism. When I left for Poland, I made myself a promise: 'If something similar happens to me, I will return to Brazil immediately.' 

"It's unacceptable that these things happen today. I just ask for respect for people. Nothing more. Respect for everyone, like I respected everyone else."