Tears rolling down the face of Lucas Paqueta against Spurs may be the final memory of the Brazilian in a West Ham shirt after a shock new claim made by a well-placed journalist.
The big headline after West Ham’s 1-1 draw with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur was Lucas Paqueta breaking down in tears.
A strange London derby, where there was nothing but saving face to play for, took an even stranger twist when West Ham’s Brazilian midfielder Paqueta burst into tears after being booked for a challenge on Mikey Moore.
Given how often Paqueta gets booked, the reaction would appear unusual to those on the outside.
But for those at West Ham, it was perhaps surprising it hadn’t happened sooner.
Paqueta tears against Spurs explained
As the cameras zoomed in on Paqueta’s face, he was in floods of tears and struggling to regain his composure.
Paqueta had worked hard for the team but had not enjoyed his best game against West Ham’s bitter rivals.
Not many had in truth, besides Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tomas Soucek.
Graham Potter unsurprisingly subbed Paqueta off a few minutes after Bowen talked him down from his emotional rage.
Finally Paqueta had finally broken over the spot-fixing scandal that has hung above his head like a dark cloud since August 2023.
Two years of uncertainty, claim and counter claim and an adjourned court case weighing heavy on his mind led to that moment for Paqueta.
Time will tell whether that has been self-inflicted. The 27-year-old is adamant it was not, vehemently insisting his innocence from the very start.
Paqueta’s trial lasted three weeks in March but had to be adjourned to be continued at a later date – which was expected to be June.
After the sad scenes against Spurs, Paqueta’s wife hit out on social media.
West Ham may not see Paqueta play again if journalist’s claim is true
Hammers News has since exclusively revealed who the true target of Paqueta’s wife’s anger was.
Everyone connected with West Ham has been wishing the season would end for some time now.
Three games remain, at Manchester United, home vs Nottingham Forest and away at Ipswich.
It has long been reported that this will be Paqueta’s last season with the Hammers either way.
If guilty he will be banned – likely for life – and if cleared of wrongdoing, West Ham will be looking to sell the Brazil international to help raise funds for Potter’s rebuild.
Now it has emerged that Paqueta may have played his last West Ham game after a top journalist’s shock new claim.
Potter and Bowen said Paqueta was ‘fine now’ after his emotional outburst against Tottenham.
Although neither seemed to know exactly what caused it – or at least didn’t want to say – with Potter getting the wrong end of the stick and suggesting it was because Paqueta was frustrated at how West Ham had played in the game.
Paqueta’s wife’s social media rant made it clear exactly why her husband was so upset – because of the case against him dragging on.
Trial has restarted and verdict in five weeks
Now Telegraph journalist Jason Burt has claimed West Ham’s hierarchy and senior players have very real concerns Paqueta is in no fit mental state to play in the remaining three games of the season.
The club are now given very real consideration to resting Paqueta for the last three games.
As a result it means Paqueta may have already played in the claret and blue for the final time.
Not only that but Burt has revealed Paqueta’s trial has started up again this week – further explaining the player’s raw emotions at the weekend.
And he claims a verdict will be handed down within five weeks, with further delays possible if he is found guilty as a separate hearing will likely be needed to decide his punishment.
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