New £725k Lucas Paqueta fee claim is not West Ham’s problem in the slightest

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West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta has been through a lot over the past year or so.

It emerged that Lucas Paqueta was being investigated for potential breaches of betting rules back in August 2023.

And then a year later, the West Ham midfielder was officially charged for his alleged offences.

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta could be banned for life if he is found guilty of those charges.

• READ ALSO: Champions League carrot dangled for Lucas Paqueta if he beats betting charges

It must have been so hard for him to perform for the Hammers over the past 19 months or so, given the turmoil going on in his life in the background.

However, if he is found not-guilty, it is believed that Lucas Paqueta could still join Manchester City from West Ham this summer.

As things stand, his career is not over just yet.

New £725k Lucas Paqueta fee claim is not West Ham’s problem

The Hammers are impatiently awaiting the outcome of Paqueta’s betting trial, as is the Brazilian himself.

On Monday, it will be three weeks since the trial began, and that was the original timescale given for a decision to be made.

There has still been no verdict given though.

Away from his betting trial, Brazilian media outlet Lance are claiming that Flamengo are still owed around £725k from the sale of Paqueta to AC Milan way back in January 2019.

He then left the San Siro to join Lyon 18 months later, before moving on to West Ham in August 2022.

The good news is that the money owed to Flamengo is nothing to do with the Hammers. That burden will fall on Milan and possibly even Lyon, due to sell-on clauses inserted in the deals.

What West Ham staff thought about Paqueta’s reaction to betting charges

Back in 2023, Paqueta was taken away from training to be informed of the accusations made against him.

And it was recently claimed that the staff at the London Stadium were shocked out how nonchalant Paqueta was after finding out about the problems he faced.

That obviously doesn’t mean anything, because all humans react to things differently.

And it was suggested that the Brazilian’s personality oozed nonchalance anyway, before the betting charges came to light.

We need to find out now whether Lucas Paqueta is actually guilty or not. The case has been rumbling on for far too long, and a conclusion needs to be reached one way or another, for the good of the player himself and West Ham United football club.