As much as West Ham United playmaker Lucas Paqueta may want to secure that January return to Brazil, nothing is done until the contract with Flamengo sealed, the money is transferred, and the T’s are crossed.
Someone may want to remind Jose Boto about that.
Flamengo’s director of football appeared to let his excitement get the better of him this week. He is not the only one, of course.
As Flamengo consider a new and improved £34 million offer for the prodigal playmaker – Lucas Paqueta started his career in red and black, and could yet end it in those colours too – the prospect of an emotional homecoming has the reigning Copa Libertadores champions buzzing with anticipation.
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But with West Ham United holding out for in excess of £40 million, there are still plenty of hoops to jump through and plenty of Brazilian real to dig out of the coffers.
Flamengo’s Jose Boto deletes Lucas Paqueta post as West Ham United rumours continue
According to latest claims provided by the Brazilian branch of ESPN, Paqueta and Flamengo have a ‘verbal agreement’ in place.
Agreeing terms with West Ham, though, is the hard part.
So when the aforementioned Jose Boto reposted a video on his Instagram account showing Paqueta dusting off his dance moves – complete with a caption which read ‘Flamengo receives [a] yes from Lucas Paqueta and seeks an agreement with West Ham’ – it is fair to say the director of football acted pretty prematurely.
According to Lance, Boto deleted the post later in the day. Though not before it had been seen by thousands of Flamengo supporters. Thus, sending fans into a frenzy and raising expectations of an imminent unveiling.
The Brazilian’s absence against QPR on Sunday had some wondering, with justification, if he had played his last game in the claret and blue jersey.
Though, speaking on The Transfer Show, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol insists that Paqueta will make himself available to play against Tottenham this weekend. Whether Nuno picks him – a distracted Paqueta usually equals an underperforming Paqueta – remains to be seen.
Hammers News have been told that Paqueta will be fined if he refuses to play or train over the coming days. His likely availability, then, might not be the act of a footballer determined to sign off in style but one simply bound by the terms of his contract.
Paqueta ready to reject Tottenham Hotspur for Brazil return
At least West Ham do not have to worry about a repeat of last summer’s Mohammed Kudus saga. Paqueta is ready to reject Tottenham’s advances, his love of the English game having been tarnished by that two-year spot-fixing charge.
“I think his desire is clear. He wants to join Flamengo,” Mattos tells UOL Esporte. “Not just because he doesn’t want to go to Tottenham, which is a big English club, but also because he sees the atmosphere surrounding him in England, ever since the betting investigations began.
“He suffered a lot of reputational damage within England specifically. So I think that factor also plays into his desire to leave.
“He’s not coming to Flamengo [specifically] to go to the World Cup. He’s coming to Flamengo to be happy. He’s coming to Flamengo to play where he wants to play.”
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In a revealing interview with Globo Esporte in November, Paqueta confirmed his desire to secure a return to the Rio-based outfit. He had held talks with La Fla in each of the previous two summers.
As for the Hammers, those hoping that Paqueta would commit his future to the Premier League strugglers and lead them out of trouble following two years of support and backing in the face of serious legal charges may be waiting a while for any rewards.
“Obviously, I always want to go back to Flamengo,” Paqueta said on the other side of Christmas. “[West Ham] supported me a lot at all times, helped me in various situations, so I couldn’t force an exit from a place where I was being welcomed and respected. They respected me, my wife, my family.
“Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe [Luis, Flamengo’s head coach], who is a friend. I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.”
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