Lucas Paqueta has been trolled by a TV commentator as he pushes to force a move away from West Ham to Brazilian giants Flamengo.
Just when West Ham should be fully focused on their fight for Premier League survival, the club was hit by a Lucas Paqueta sideshow this week.
Somewhat out of the blue, it emerged Paqueta was pushing to leave the Hammers and rejoin boyhood club Flamengo after he was nowhere to be seen for the FA Cup win over QPR.
Paqueta’s camp have since claimed he has a back injury and is not downing tools to force through the move.
But West Ham’s board accused Paqueta of ‘lies’ over the injury in a huge development in midweek.
TV commentator trolled wantaway Paqueta over behaviour
Hammers News revealed the playmaker would not be in the squad for West Ham’s crucial game at Spurs.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side didn’t need him as they put in a fine display to beat their fierce rivals 2-1 and breathe new life into their Premier League survival hopes.
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In the background reports have claimed talks have continued between West Ham and Flamengo to agree a suitable fee after the Brazilian club’s initial £32.5m bid was rejected.
There was a major development overnight as West Ham’s £38m Paqueta deal is ‘ready to be sealed in black and white’ according to Brazilian sources.
As the move appears to be edging closer, Paqueta has been mocked by a TV commentator for being fickle as he leaves West Ham when they need him most.
The commentator trolled wantaway Paqueta over his West Ham celebration.
The Hammers’ hierarchy revealed Villa and Spurs wanted Paqueta in the summer along with two Saudi clubs.
Well-informed transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano was savaged by West Ham fans when he continually claimed Paqueta wanted out of the club before the summer deadline.
Romano stated on the eve of the first game of the season that Paqueta wanted out amid links to the likes of Aston Villa.
Romano right all along about Paqueta wanting out of West Ham
He said Paqueta ‘liked the Villa project’ and that there would be a ‘here we go soon’.
Paqueta made Romano look silly with his celebration after starring and scoring in West Ham’s revitalising 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest at the time.
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Clearly aware of Romano’s claims that he wanted out of West Ham, the Brazilian magnifico mimicked taking a phone call before hanging up and tossing the imaginary handset away.
Paqueta then wagged his finger saying ‘no’ as he proceeded to kiss the West Ham badge in front of the travelling fans.
Hammers fans loved the celebration.
But soon after, Paqueta stated this would be his final season with West Ham in a post on social media.
Now it looks like he won’t even stay true to that, let alone his celebration at Forest.
And it did not go unnoticed by the commentator covering West Ham’s win at Spurs for Premier League Productions alongside Matt Upson.
As West Ham put in a resilient, hard-working performance fans could be proud of in Paqueta’s absence, the £150k per week no-show received a pot-shot from the TV commentator.
‘Paqueta seemingly found that imaginary phone he threw away’
“Lucas Paqueta seemingly found that imaginary telephone he threw away at Nottingham Forest,” the commentator said.
Paqueta may have had a tough time during his spot-fixing ordeal.
But West Ham and the club’s fans were there for him, every step of the way.
The least he owes the club is to see the season out with the Hammers up against it to avoid relegation.
Especially as he said himself he is one of the more senior leaders in a team sorely lacking them.
So it is refreshing to see that Paqueta’s fickle behaviour has not gone unnoticed outside the West Ham bubble.
Now it seems the best solution for all parties is indeed an exit so Nuno can bring in as many players as possible who want to be at the club and fight for the badge.
Paqueta should be leaving West Ham being remembered for so much more – but the sorry mess will sully his reputation with many.
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