RIO DE JANEIRO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil international midfielder Paulinho has returned to his former club Corinthians to maintain his fitness ahead of the World Cup.

The 25-year-old Tottenham player will train with the Sao Paulo-based side until Luiz Felipe Scolari's Brazil squad meet in Rio de Janeiro on May 26.ylm

"It's a great pleasure to train at Corinthians and even more so because I'm preparing for a World Cup," Paulinho said on Friday. "I was fortunate to have one of the happiest times of my life at Corinthians and it's going to be good for me (to be back)."

Paulinho played a key role in Corinthians' 2012 Copa Libertadores-FIFA Club World Cup double.

Last July he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for 17.5 million pounds and he scored six times from 30 league appearances in his first season at the London club.