For the second time this season, Lucas Paqueta saw his head coach get the boot. First, Graham Potter at West Ham United in September. And now Filipe Luis at Brazilian giants Flamengo.
Days after Paqueta suffered the ignomniny of a cup final mocking – Flamengo may have a 47 million euro player, triumphant Lanus crowed, but the Argentinian’s can ‘hug [the Recopa Sudamerica trophy] 47 million times’ – the reigning champions of Brazilian football gave Filipe Luis the boot.
The former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea left-back was sacked this week, despite winning both the top-flight and the Copa Libertadores in 2025.
Serious question – are you taking a peak Mateus Fernandes or a peak Lucas Paqueta in your dream midfield?!
And less than two months after arriving to much fanfare from West Ham United, serious questions are now starting to be asked about the club-record signing of Lucas Paqueta.
Filipe Luis sacked by Flamengo weeks after Lucas Paqueta left West Ham United
“You’re playing this brand of football that requires a lot of energy, and I think they tired a little bit. Results had gone off; there was particularly a high-profile defeat to Lanus,” footballing oracle David Cartlidge says on the On the Continent podcast.
“So there was that involved [in the decision to sack Filipe Luis].
“There’s also been Lucas Paqueta. A very, very sentimental move going back to Flamengo. A lot of ties there, a lot of emotions there. He said himself, ‘I needed to go to Flamengo more than they needed me.'”
Even before he kicked a ball back in Rio, Flamengo’s decision to bring Paqueta back home raised questions. Was this simply a show of power from a club who, as their own president explains, hope to become South America’s answer to Real Madrid?
The most superfluous of ‘Galactico’ signings?
Before his sacking, Luis admitted that Paqueta was ‘suffering more than I expected’ at the Maracana. Cartlidge believes that bringing in a classic number ten, when Flamengo already had arguably the best attacking midfielder on the continent in Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
A case of too many number tens spoiling the broth? Luis’ departure certainly leaves a bitter taste. Paqueta had a very good relationship with the former head coach, Luis having played a major role in his return.
“In that number 10 role that he likes, they’ve already got a brilliant player in the lovely little Uruguayan, De Arrascaeta,” Cartlidge explains. “I think Paqueta’s involvement and influence has been extremely restricted – sitting on the bench for an hour in some games – and Filipe Luís had to deal with that situation.”
Flamengo needed a striker far more than they needed Paqueta
How will you remember Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
When asked if Paqueta had been ‘foisted’ upon Luis, Cartlidge said; “I think so. They needed a striker more than anything. A mobile striker with a bit of physicality.
“Somebody like Endrick [on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid] would have been absolutely ideal.”
Interestingly, Hammers News can confirm that West Ham discussed a deal with Real Madrid for teen forward Endrick before bringing Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe to the capital.
Paqueta’s Flamengo teammate Evertton Araujo is reportedly a summer target now, by the way.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
