Overview
Giuliano Victor de Paula, known simply as Giuliano, is a seasoned Brazilian professional footballer recognized for his contributions in midfield. Born on 31 May 1990, in Curitiba, Brazil, Giuliano has established a career spanning over a decade across various top-flight leagues globally. His journey has seen him compete in Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, showcasing adaptability and consistent performance levels.
Position
Giuliano primarily operates as an attacking midfielder, often deployed in the number 10 role behind the striker. His skill set also allows him to play as a central midfielder or on either flank, providing versatility to his teams. This flexibility in midfield positions has been a hallmark of his career, enabling coaches to utilize his technical prowess in different tactical setups.
Identity
Giuliano's identity as a footballer is defined by his technical proficiency, vision, and capacity to contribute to both goal creation and scoring. He is often described as a 'playmaker' who can unlock defenses with incisive passes and has a knack for arriving in the box to finish chances. His composure on the ball and decision-making under pressure are key attributes that have allowed him to maintain a high level of performance throughout his career. His consistent output in terms of goals and assists from midfield underlines his offensive impact.
Career path
Giuliano's footballing journey began in his native Brazil, progressing through youth systems before making his senior debut. His career path reflects a blend of domestic success and international experience across multiple European and Asian leagues.
Paraná Clube and Internacional
Giuliano started his professional career at Paraná Clube, making his senior debut in 2007. His performances quickly attracted attention, leading to a move to Sport Club Internacional in 2009. At Internacional, he became a key player, notably contributing to their 2010 Copa Libertadores triumph, where he was named the tournament's best player (Wikipedia).
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
In January 2011, Giuliano moved to Europe, joining Ukrainian Premier League side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He spent three and a half seasons with Dnipro, establishing himself as a prominent attacker in the league. During his tenure, he made over 80 league appearances and scored 16 goals (Transfermarkt).
Grêmio and Zenit Saint Petersburg
Giuliano returned to Brazil in 2014, signing for Grêmio, where he continued to showcase his attacking talents. After two successful years, he moved back to Europe, joining Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2016. At Zenit, he enjoyed a prolific season, scoring 8 goals in 28 league appearances and 8 goals in 10 UEFA Europa League matches during the 2016–17 season (Transfermarkt).
Fenerbahçe and Al-Nassr
In 2017, Giuliano transferred to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, where he spent one season before moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in 2018. At Al-Nassr, he was instrumental in their 2018–19 Saudi Pro League title win, contributing significantly with goals and assists.
İstanbul Başakşehir and Corinthians
He returned to Turkey in 2020 with İstanbul Başakşehir before making another return to Brazil in 2021, signing with Corinthians. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent ability to adapt to different leagues and maintain a high level of performance.
Playing style
Giuliano's playing style is characterized by a blend of technical finesse, tactical intelligence, and a strong work ethic. As an attacking midfielder, his primary role involves linking play between the midfield and attack, creating goal-scoring opportunities, and often contributing with goals himself.
Technical Attributes
He possesses excellent close control and dribbling ability, allowing him to navigate tight spaces and evade markers in congested areas of the pitch. His passing range is notable, capable of executing both short, intricate passes and longer, incisive through balls to split defenses. Giuliano's vision is a key asset, enabling him to identify teammates in advantageous positions and deliver the ball with precision.
Offensive Contribution
Giuliano is known for his intelligent movement off the ball, often making late runs into the penalty area to get on the end of crosses or cut-backs. This knack for arriving in dangerous positions contributes significantly to his goal tally from midfield. He also has a powerful and accurate shot from outside the box, adding another dimension to his offensive threat. His ability to take set-pieces, including free-kicks and corners, further enhances his value to a team.
Work Rate and Versatility
Beyond his offensive qualities, Giuliano also demonstrates a commendable work rate. He is often involved in pressing opponents and tracking back to assist his defense, particularly when deployed in a central midfield role. This defensive contribution, combined with his attacking prowess, makes him a well-rounded midfielder. His versatility to play across the attacking midfield line, as well as deeper in central midfield, allows coaches tactical flexibility. Compared to other Brazilian attacking midfielders of his generation, such as Oscar or Philippe Coutinho, Giuliano often provides a more direct goal threat from central areas while maintaining similar levels of creativity (FBref).
Achievements & honours
Giuliano has accumulated a significant collection of team honours and individual accolades throughout his career, reflecting his impact at both club and continental levels.
Club Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Internacional | Copa Libertadores | 2010 |
| Internacional | Recopa Sudamericana | 2011 |
| Al-Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 2018–19 |
| Al-Nassr | Saudi Super Cup | 2019, 2020 |
Individual Accolades
Giuliano's individual performances have also been recognized on several occasions. He was notably named the Best Player of the Copa Libertadores in 2010 for his instrumental role in Internacional's triumph (Wikipedia). His goal-scoring prowess was highlighted during his spell with Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he was the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League during the 2016–17 season, with 8 goals (UEFA.com). These individual honours underscore his ability to perform at the highest level and make a decisive impact in major competitions.
International career
Giuliano has represented Brazil at both youth and senior international levels, contributing to the rich legacy of Brazilian football.
Youth International
His international journey began with the Brazil U17 team. He later featured for the Brazil U20 squad, participating in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. During this tournament, he played a key role as Brazil reached the final, eventually losing to Ghana (FIFA.com).
Senior National Team
Giuliano made his senior debut for the Brazil national football team in 2010. Over the years, he has earned a number of caps for the Seleção, featuring in various friendly matches and World Cup qualifiers. While he has not been a constant fixture in major tournament squads, his call-ups reflect his consistent club form and the depth of talent within Brazilian football. He has often been utilized as an impact substitute or a creative option from the bench, offering tactical flexibility to national team coaches. His contributions to the national team, though not always in the spotlight, have been a testament to his enduring quality and professionalism.
What makes Giuliano stand out
Giuliano stands out primarily due to his exceptional footballing intelligence and versatility in midfield. His ability to read the game allows him to position himself effectively, both to intercept passes and to exploit spaces in the final third. This tactical awareness is complemented by his technical skill, enabling him to execute complex passes and maintain possession under pressure.
Another distinguishing trait is his consistent goal contribution from midfield. Unlike many traditional playmakers who focus solely on assists, Giuliano regularly finds himself on the scoresheet, demonstrating a keen eye for goal and intelligent off-the-ball movement into scoring positions. His knack for scoring crucial goals in high-stakes matches, such as during the Copa Libertadores, highlights his composure and big-game temperament.
"Giuliano is a player who combines vision with execution. He sees the pass, and he makes the pass. He also has a fantastic ability to arrive in the box and finish."