Brazil international Paulinho has called on Guangzhou Evergrande to "be flexible" when it comes to transfer discussions with Barcelona.

The Catalan giants have already had one £17m bid turned down for the 28-year-old, instead being told to offer double that amount to get a deal done.

Paulinho has made no secret of his desire to depart Guangzhou to try his luck in a top European league for a second time, two years on from flopping at Tottenham Hotspur, and he would even be willing to take a pay cut to complete his end of the bargain.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, he said: "I was a little surprised that Guangzhou had not responded to Barca yet and it came out in the press here that they had rejected the offer. I could not talk to my president yet because we travel to Beijing to play, but I hope that if Barca come, Guangzhou will be flexible and the signing can be confirmed.

"In 2011, when I was in Corinthians, I received an offer from Russia that offered me to win 10 times more than in Brazil and I answered: 'What I can do with five, I can do with two. Money for me never came first. A player can make money at any team he goes to. The important thing for me is to be happy with the decision that I am making.

"China is now a financial giant, but for me the money was not a priority, so if Barca offer me a proposal which is less than in Guangzhou, for me it is not a problem because I value the option of being able to play in a great European league, surrounded by great players. The dream of being able to win the Champions League is something that you have with Barca, and with the team that is there, I can achieve it."

Barcelona midfielder Neymar is hopeful of seeing a transfer completed for Paulinho, who has netted 27 goals in 89 appearances for Guangzhou.