Paulo Iago
{{Short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Álvarez|Morón|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Paulo Iago
| image =
| fullname = Paulo Iago Álvarez Morón{{WorldFootball.net|paulo_22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Madrid, Spain
| height =
| currentclub = Sporting CP
| clubnumber =
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2011–2013
| youthclubs1 = Parque Sureste
| youthyears2 = 2013–2014
| youthclubs2 = Adpi Rivas
| youthyears3 = 2013–2014
| youthclubs3 = Estrella de Madrid
| youthyears4 = 2014–2024
| youthclubs4 = Real Madrid
| youthyears5 = 2024–
| youthclubs5 = Sporting CP
| years1 =
| clubs1 =
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = Spain U15
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam2 = Spain U16
| nationalcaps2 = 8
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = Spain U17
| nationalcaps3 = 12
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| club-update = 17:04, 14 November 2022 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 04:15, 31 May 2024 (UTC)
}}
Paulo Iago Álvarez Morón (born 10 April 2007), known as Paulo Iago or just Paulo, is a Spanish professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Sporting CP.
Club career
=Early life=
Born in Madrid, Paulo Iago developed an interest for football at the age of two, and was encouraged by his father, Xosé "Pepe" Álvarez Murias, a former amateur footballer from A Fonsagrada, Lugo.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalgalicia.org/noticia/deportistas/2021/08/17/hijo-pele-fonsagrada-triunfa-pichichi-real-madrid/00031629220767773870326.htm|title=El hijo del Pelé de A Fonsagrada triunfa como pichichi del Real Madrid|trans-title=The son of Pelé from A Fonsagrada triumphs as top scorer for Real Madrid|first1=M.|last1=Fernández|first2=U.|last2=Carerra|date=18 August 2021|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=globalgalicia.org|language=Spanish}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elprogreso.es/articulo/deporte-local-lugo/zurda-oro-adn-lucense/202006011428511441564.html|title=Paulo Iago, la joya de la cantera del Real Madrid, tiene raíces en A Fonsagrada|trans-title=Paulo Iago, the jewel of the Real Madrid academy, has roots in A Fonsagrada|first=Nacho D.|last=Menendez|date=1 June 2020|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=elprogreso.es|language=Spanish}}
He joined Parque Sureste at the age of four, but broke his tibia and fibula in a skateboarding accident shortly after his first training session. After a year out, he returned to become top scorer in his category at the age of five. He was scouted by professional sides Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid, a rare feat for a player of such a young age. Short spells with Adpi Rivas and Estrella de Madrid followed, before he joined Real Madrid in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/futbol/cantera/infantil-a/paulo-iago-alvarez-moron|title=Paulo|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=realmadrid.com|language=Spanish}}
He progressed well through La Fábrica, scoring over 150 goals in his first five years with the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/amarina/2020/05/17/orgullo-gallego-casa-blanca/0003_202005X17C12995.htm|title=El acento gallego de la zurda más letal de La Fábrica|trans-title=The Galician accent of the most lethal lefty of La Fábrica|first=I.|last=Díaz Rolle|date=17 May 2020|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=lavozdegalicia.es|language=Spanish}} After signing with super-agent Jorge Mendes, he signed his first contract with Los Blancos in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/madrid-asegura-futuro-paulo-iago-prometedor-cadete-1118583|title=El Madrid se asegura el futuro de Paulo Iago, prometedor cadete|trans-title=Madrid ensures the future of Paulo Iago, promising cadet|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=es.besoccer.com|language=Spanish}}
In the 2024/25 season summer market, Paulo Iago left Real Madrid academy and joined Sporting Clube de Portugal {{cite web|url=https://www.sporting.pt/pt/noticias/futebol/equipa-b/2024-09-11/paulo-iago-reforca-equipa-b-leonina|title=Paulo Iago reforça equipa B Leonina!|date=11 September 2024 |language=Portuguese}}
International career
Paulo Iago has represented Spain at under-15 level. He was called up to the under-16 team in August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/amarina/2022/09/01/paulo-iago-jugara-dos-partidos-rumania-seleccion-sub-16/0003_202209X1C6991.htm|title=Paulo Iago jugará dos partidos en Rumanía con la selección sub-16|trans-title=Paulo Iago will play two games in Romania with the U-16 team|date=31 August 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=lavozdegalicia.es|language=Spanish}}
Style of play
A prolific goal-scorer from midfield, technically gifted and skilful, he has drawn comparisons to Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/deportes/2022/01/26/paulo-iago-posibilidades-serias-triunfar-madrid/00031643219306906648670.htm|title=Así es Paulo Iago, la perla de origen gallego del Real Madrid|trans-title=This is Paulo Iago, the pearl of Galician origin of Real Madrid|first=I.|last=Díaz Rolle|date=19 February 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=lavozdegalicia.es|language=Spanish}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paulo Iago}}
Category:Footballers from Madrid
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Spain men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Real Madrid CF players
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal