Lucas Paqueta proof has emerged from the Brazil camp after some rather ill-informed criticism of the West Ham star in recent days.
There was enormous excitement at West Ham around the record signing of Paqueta from Lyon.
Eight players were signed by West Ham in the summer window.
But there is no doubt the arrival of the Brazilian midfield star has caught the imagination more than any other.
It is fair to say things have not worked out so far in east London for Paqueta or West Ham, who sit one point off the bottom three during the Premier League pause for the World Cup.
Paqueta was the standout player of Brazil’s World Cup qualification campaign. And this is a Brazil team currently ranked by FIFA as the best in the world.
West Ham’s £51m man duly started the first two group games as Brazil qualified for the last 16 – where they will face Republic of Korea.
There had been reports Paqueta would miss the second game against Switzerland through illness.
But he played and was substituted at half-time with the score at 0-0.
That led to the Hammer taking some flak from various outlets and on social media with talk of him being “hauled off” for a poor performance.
That simply was not the case. Paqueta had been ill prior to the game and clearly wasn’t feeling right.
So Brazil boss Tite brought him off. Ahead of the final group game against Cameroon it was reported that the ex Milan and Flamengo star was being dropped (Yahoo).
The inference in some quarters being that West Ham and David Moyes have somehow ruined the player – like football kryptonite.
He was indeed on the bench for a shock 1-0 defeat to the Africans.
But Paqueta proof emerged from the Brazil camp after some ill-informed criticism of West Ham star.
Paqueta was not dropped, he was clearly rested as he is a fundamental player for Tite – as explained by South American football expert Tim Vickery previously.
That was understandable given Brazil had already qualified and Paqueta had been suffering from illness.
And Tite proved just how key West Ham star Paqueta is for him and Brazil with his actions during the Cameroon game.
He made 11 changes to the side and went on to use all five substitutes.
But the fact Paqueta did not get on proves he was being saved – alongside Brazil’s other key players – for the last 16.
Paqueta remained wrapped in cotton wool on the bench alongside Casemiro, Richarlison, Thiago Silva, Viniscus Junior and first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Clearly that quintet will all start against Korea and all the talk about West Ham star being “dropped” for poor performance will be shown up for the Paqueta lies that they are.
Ahead of the Qatar tournament, Paqueta said he believed moving to West Ham could help make him a World Cup winner with Brazil.
And the favourites have moved a step closer to making that prediction a reality.
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