The seven words Messi muttered to Paulinho to shatter his confidence

Paulinho has revealed the mindgames Lionel Messi played on him during Brazil’s clash with Argentina last year.

One month before Paulinho sealed a €40m move from China side Guangzhou Evergrande to Barcelona, Messi got inside the Brazilian’s head during the June friendly in Melbourne.

As Paulinho shaped up to take a free-kick in a dangerous position, Messi walked up to his future team-mate and asked him about the speculation linking him with a transfer to the Nou Camp.

Paulinho told El Periodico: “I was preparing to take a free-kick with Willian and another player I do not remember.

“Suddenly, I see Messi from behind, who is approaching me little by little and says: ‘Are you going to Barcelona or not?’. He said this right before I was about to take the free-kick.

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“What did I tell him? ‘If you want to take me, you can take me. I am going’.

“I was so nervous that I said to Willian, ‘You’re taking the free-kick!’.”

Messi’s ploy worked a treat: The free-kick came to nothing and Argentina won 1-0 thanks to a Gabriel Mercado goal.