An insane Lucas Paqueta revelation shows he’s so much more than West Ham bargained for and why Man City were prepared to pay £85m.
When Manchester City suddenly made a move to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham it was a bolt out of the Blue Moon.
A deal had reportedly been agreed between the Hammers and Man City before illegal betting allegations – which Paqueta vehemently denies – emerged and any potential move collapsed, for now at least.
It meant Paqueta remained with West Ham, much to the delight of the club’s fans and manager David Moyes. And in the end Manchester City, keen for at least some cover in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne’s injury lay-off, signed former West Ham target Matheus Nunes instead.
Sudden Man City move for Hammers talisman collapsed amid betting allegations
The allegations against Paqueta and the collapse of a move to Man City have not affected his form in any way. He has been imperious of late, helping West Ham beat Luton and maintain their unbeaten start to the season before the international break.
When West Ham signed Paqueta, the capture of “Brazil’s number 10” was heralded as a major coup – and rightly so.
After a difficult start to his time at West Ham, the summer Man City target has begun this season in the same fine form he finished the last, becoming West Ham’s talisman.
But Man City’s willingness to fork out such a huge sum still raised eyebrows – even among some West Ham fans.
Insane Lucas Paqueta revelation shows he’s so much more than West Ham bargained for and why Man City were prepared to pay £85m
Man City will come up against Paqueta when they visit the London Stadium this weekend.
Now an insane Paqueta revelation shows he’s so much more than West Ham bargained for and why Man City were prepared to pay that £85m.
The perception of Paqueta among some – particularly as he is a Brazilian blessed with silky skills – might be that the 26-year-old is a luxury flair player.
Not a bit of it, though, as new Opta data confirms what Hammers fans already know – this is a player who excels on both sides of the game.
Because Opta statistics have revealed that Paqueta has won possession more times than any other player in Europe’s top seven leagues so far this season.
A player of style and substance
Not bad for a flair player is it?
West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico is top of the list with 43, ahead of Uruguayan sensation Manuel Ugarte (41) – who joined PSG in the summer.
Nearly all of the rest of the names in the top 10 are defensive midfielders or defenders, as you might expect.
For context, with 20 players available for selection to managers of each club in Europe’s top seven leagues every week, Paqueta essentially tops the list ahead of over 2,500 players!
Astonishing. A player with style and substance. Perhaps he was going cheap at £85m given what some other defensive midfielders – who can’t do half what Paqueta can do on the ball – have gone for.
With Man City set to control the lion’s share of possession on Saturday, Paqueta will get plenty of chances to add to his particularly impressive tally.