Strains have appeared in the relationship between Barcelona midfielder Paulinho and the club over his recovery from a foot injury suffered last month.

Paulinho sustained a hairline fracture on a metatarsal during the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Espanyol, although the Brazilian was allegedly unhappy with that diagnosis.

He reportedly was unable to put any sort of pressure on his foot for days after the injury but had recently been playing with pain-killing injections.

The midfielder was ultimately allowed to bring in his own personal physiotherapist, Caio Mello, who also works with the Brazil national team. It is that step that has brought the situation to the attention of the Spanish media.

Paulinho’s form has dipped in recent games and the injury is no doubt a key factor behind that. Although the fracture itself has reportedly healed now, he still experiences pain in the foot, impacting his ability to play.

The 29-year-old is not only a first-choice midfielder for Barcelona but Brazil as well, and in a World Cup year, any injury that could keep him out long-term would be catastrophic. It is believed that this is the reason Paulinho was allowed to hire his own therapist rather than working exclusively with the club’s medical staff.

However, it is rare for any Barcelona player to go outside the club for non-specialist treatment, given the high standard of the club’s medical staff. This level of discord between player and club over an injury is almost unprecedented for Barcelona.