David Moyes has eased fears about Lucas Paqueta’s adaptation to life at West Ham with a very interesting observation on the Brazil star’s intelligence.
Record signing Paqueta was just starting to get going in a West Ham shirt when he suffered an unusual collarbone injury against Southampton.
The Brazilian midfield ace has missed West Ham’s games against Liverpool and Bournemouth since and Moyes has suggested he will sit out Silkeborg and be ‘touch and go’ for Man United this Sunday too.
The Brazil ace played on after the initial injury against Saints but went down off the ball late on in some pain and had to be substituted.
TV cameras showed West Ham’s Emerson – his former Lyon teammate and a fellow Brazilian-born Portuguese speaker – having to translate between Paqueta and the Hammers physio as the injury was assessed on the bench.
That gave rise to concern among some supporters that Paqueta’s inability to speak English could impact how well – and quickly – he settles in at West Ham, not just on the pitch but with the manager, coaching staff and his teammates.
With Moyes publicly calling for Paqueta to improve aspects of his game – as he has done with the likes of Said Benrahma – those concerns are understandable.
But Moyes has eased fears about Paqueta’s adaptation at West Ham with a very interesting observation on the Brazil star’s intelligence.
Speaking in his pre-Silkeborg press conference, Moyes was asked how his summer signings such as Paqueta were settling in and whether any were taking or needed English lessons to help them adapt.
“You’ve probably heard me say it (before) but we’ve got an incredible team spirit, it really is,” Moyes said in his presser.
“Behind the scenes here we’ve got a great team spirit. And by the way I fight them and challenge them and all the new boys have got to join us.
“But I’ve got to say the new boys, their character has been really impressive to me…
“Strangely enough (Lucas) Paqueta can’t speak it (English) but I think he understands it.
“He’s doing really well and I think he already speaks about three or four languages so it might be something, I hope, that he picks up quite quickly.”
It is great to hear that Paqueta is settling in so well.
For a player, who himself admits he came from a poor area of Brazil, to have come so far in his career and be able to speak three or four different languages is a testament to his commitment, attitude and drive.
Paqueta revealed in an interview with The Times that he will be taking English lessons regularly to be able to converse with Moyes and the staff and players.
So it could soon be five languages the West Ham star speaks.
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