Meanwhile, Paulinho Martin, also known as Paulinho Curua, is a defensive midfielder born in 1997. Standing 1.87 meters tall, the Brazilian brings both an imposing physical presence and valuable professional experience.
Last season, Paulinho established himself as the team's midfield enforcer, making 15 starts in all competitions. His aggressive style, willingness to engage in physical battles, and high success rate in one-on-one duels formed an effective first line of defense in front of the back four.
His performances played a significant role in helping The Cong Viettel finish the season with the strongest defensive record in the V.League, conceding the fewest goals in the competition.
Retaining both Nata and Paulinho underlines the club's determination to compete for major honors in the 2026/27 campaign, including the AFC Champions League Two, the V.League 1 title and the Vietnamese National Cup. The renewals also ensure continuity within the team's tactical framework.
"Keeping Wesley Nata and Paulinho Martin allows us to maintain the continuity of the core squad we have built. They are highly professional players who bring the cohesion our team needs. I believe this group has the discipline and quality to play effective football and meet our supporters' expectations in the coming season," head coach Popov said.
Dai Nam
