A few months ago, when opening up on his tear-jerking West Ham United farewell, Pablo Fornals indicated that the signing of Lucas Paqueta may have been the beginning of the end for him at the London Stadium.
It is ironic in the extreme, then, that most Hammers fans would have swapped the former for the latter in an instant before Paqueta made a seemingly impossible Flamengo return ‘possible’ during the January transfer window.
Pablo Fornals over Lucas Paqueta is not merely a preference driven by the heart, either. The head tells you – not to mention the stats – that one former West Ham United attacking midfielder has comfortably outperformed another in 2025/26.
How will you remember Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
It is telling that, when we at Hammers News asked our readers to sum up the Brazilian’s legacy, a lot of you felt that Paqueta had underachieved in claret and blue. Fornals, albeit mainly because of his fan favourite personality, his fierce work ethic and his clear love for the club, will be remembered a lot more fondly.
West Ham’s loss, though, is quite clearly Real Betis’ gain.
Fornals has saved Manuel Pellegrini’s skin on numerous occasions this season. The former London Stadium boss found himself paying a grateful, glowing tribute once again as Fornals popped up to fire home an 88th minute winner against Valencia last weekend.
Manuel Pellegrini hails former West Ham United fan favourite Pablo Fornals
Statistically speaking, Pablo Fornals was outperforming Bruno Fernandes in the autumn. The Manchester United captain and potential Premier League Player of the Year has pulled clear since then.
But, with six goals and six assists in all competitions, this is Fornals’ best return since he was wearing the yellow of Villarreal nearly a decade ago.
La Liga expert Terry Gibson feels Fornals has reached another level since he returned to Spain to the tune of just £6.8 million two years ago. Pellegrini agrees.
“Pablo has improved over the years,” says the former Manchester City and Real Madrid coach, speaking to El Pais. “I was lucky enough to coach him at West Ham, and that’s why we brought him here.
“Besides his quality, he’s a very committed player. He’s a box-to-box midfielder, but he’s also adapted well to being a playmaker. He’s involved in both goals and assists. I’m very happy for him.
“He gives us an option when we have so many creative players injured.”
Lucas Paqueta arrival resulted in Fornals’ Real Betis switch
Fornals made his return to the Spanish national team after three years away recently. He is therefore a clear candidate to secure a seat on the plane for the 2026 World Cup.
If Paqueta will be remembered best for his assist to Jarrod Bowen in the Europa Conference League final, it was Fornals who sent them to Prague with an iconic solo effort against AZ Alkmaar in the last-four.
“It was a very intense four-and-a-half years in which we experienced everything,” Fornals told Estadio Deportivo on the other side of Christmas. “In the first [season], we were saved [from relegation] with two games to go.
“Then, we qualified for the Europa League, played in the semi-finals of the Europa League, won a Conference League.
“Little by little, the club grew so much that there was no room for players from before,” he adds, falling out of favour once West Ham started spending big sums on the likes of Paqueta to take his spot in the team.
“[West Ham] appreciate that there will be better days, there will be worse days, days when I will be more successful or less. But I think that the Betis fans have already seen that, for me, playing football is competing, it’s running, it’s giving it my all.
“There will be days when it will be valued, other days when it won’t. Other days I’ll give an assist, other days I’ll score a goal, and other days when nothing will happen. But for my part I will always give it my all, and they appreciate that.”
Spain international backs West Ham to survive ahead of Burnley claash
This TalkingPoints user is DESPERATE for Axel Disasi to start! 🇫🇷
But what do you think?
Speaking to The Athletic earlier this week, Fornals revealed that he remains a West Ham ‘fan’ despite finding himself on the fringes under David Moyes towards the end.
“They recruited good players during the window, and have some really good players already. We had three successive wins but, sadly, we lost against Chelsea,” he said ahead of Saturday’s trip to 19th place Burnley.
“It was a decent game and, although we couldn’t hold on until the end, I think West Ham can stay up. I react like every other fan when I watch the matches.
“I’m happy when we win but sad if it’s a defeat. When I return to the changing room after matches, I check for West Ham’s results on my phone. I’ve set up notifications so that I don’t miss them.”
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