Corinthians midfielder Paulinho has explained turning down Inter Milan in January.

Paulinho says the financial advantages of a European move were appealing but did not feel it was the right point in his career.

He told Sportv: "I received two offers from Inter Milan. I decided to stay because it wasn't the right moment to go.

"The financial side was very good but I always place my career ahead of the money. Time will tell when it will be the right moment.

"When a player wants a new challenge, he insists, but when he doesn't want to go, he insists as well.

"The national team is one of the reasons why I stayed, as the manager had changed. If I had gone, it would have been a new beginning."