Mumbai City FC announce Portugal’s Paulo Machado staying until 2021!

Indian Super League franchise Mumbai City FC have announced that their Portuguese international midfielder Paulo Machado has extended his contract by two years until 2021.

33 year old Paulo Machado is an experienced campaigner in some of Europe’s most elite competitions, who had joined Mumbai City FC off the back of a successful campaign with Portuguese side CD Aves, winning the Taça de Portugal last season.

After graduating from FC Porto’s youth set-up, Machado was re-united with Jorge Costa, once his captain and now his head coach at Mumbai City FC. In a five-year stint with Porto, a young Machado enjoyed loan spells with Portuguese sides Estrela Amadora, União Leiria and Leixões.

Machado made his first move outside Portugal when signed on loan for French side AS Saint-Étienne. After impressing in the French Ligue 1, he joined FC Toulouse ahead of the 2009-10 season and went on to play for Les Violets for three seasons.

The central midfielder further moved to Greece for a new challenge where he signed with Olympiacos, winning the Greek Super League twice in as many seasons with the club and also won the Greek Cup on one occasion. He was also an integral figure for the club in the UEFA Champions League, helping the club notch famous wins over Arsenal FC, Manchester United, Benfica and one Round of 16 finish in the 2013/14 season.

The streak of success didn’t stop there for Machado, signing for Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb and winning both, the Prva HNL (first division) and the Croatian Football Cup twice in three seasons with the club before moving back to Portugal with CD Aves.

Last season Paulo Machado moved to Mumbai City FC and became an influential player in the Islander midfield. He became their captain scoring two goals and having four assists in their ISL-5 semifinal reaching campaign.

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