Lucas Paqueta explains what West Ham did to keep him as he opens up on failed £80m transfer

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Speculation over the future of Lucas Paqueta has dominated the column inches at West Ham United over the last few years, from that failed move to Manchester City in 2023 to discussions regarding a return to Flamengo in 2025.

Even this week, Hammers News reported that David Sullivan rejected a £50 million Saudi Arabia offer for his mercurial Brazilian.

West Ham United’s chairman might not be a popular figure right now. But Sullivan insisting that any club willing to buy Lucas Paqueta in January must stump up a nine-figure sum will go down well with a usually disapproving fanbase.

It is no secret that Manchester City came close to signing Paqueta for an eye-watering £80 million in August 2023. That, of course, was until the Football Association started their investigation into alleged spot-fixing.

Paqueta would be acquitted by the FA in July after two years of near-constant stress.

But speaking to Globo Esporte, the former Flamengo ace admits that he had hoped to make a return to his old employers as recently as last summer, after he had been cleared to kick-start his career once again.

Lucas Paqueta explains why he didn’t leave West Ham United for Flamengo

Paqueta had given a great deal of thought about re-joining Flamengo on two separate occasions. But make no mistake, the way West Ham handled and cared for Paqueta and his family during two years of hell were more than appreciated.

“The first was when [former vice-president Marcos] Braz was still at Flamengo. There was that contact. I know of Flamengo’s desire, and they know of my desire, my passion for the club, so it’s something that always happens,” Paqueta says.

“As soon as I was accused [in 2023], and the whole trial process was about to begin, Braz came to my house, made the offer, and asked what I thought. Obviously, I always want to go back to Flamengo, but at that moment I was still a bit undecided about my decision, about what I was going to do.

“I also talked to the West Ham director and said; ‘Braz, I want to go back. I know I’ll feel good at Flamengo. But I can’t be ungrateful to the club that’s supporting me so much.’

“[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.

“But yes, this exchange with Flamengo did happen.

“The second moment, incredibly enough, was when I already knew I could continue playing normally [once the verdict finally arrived in July]. That’s when I felt even more of a desire to return to Flamengo.”

“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.”

Paqueta opens up on failed Manchester City transfer

Hammers News reported a few months ago that Lucas Paqueta was greatly appreciative of the support given to him by West Ham during a period of prolonged uncertainty. It appears that this, his desire to repay that trust, was the thing which kept him in East London for at least another year.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are still admirers of the 28-year-old, meanwhile. Though, two years after an £80 million transfer which came oh-so close to completion, there is little to suggest at this stage that the doors to the Etihad will swing open once again.

“Everyone knows that I really had [the chance to] transfer to City. I probably would have signed the week I received the letter [from the FA],” Paqueta explains. “Professionally speaking, I lost that, that transfer, a leap in my career.

“Psychologically, I think that’s where I was most affected, by the fear of this indecision, the uncertainty of my future, despite knowing who I am, what I do, what I’ve done. But, due to the circumstances of the investigations and the way the federation handled everything, it generated fear in us.”