The end is near for the spot-fixing case against Lucas Paqueta but also for the Brazilian magnifico’s time with West Ham United.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Lucas Paqueta at West Ham.
The Brazilian magnifico is West Ham’s record signing at £51m – and highest paid player ever on £150k per week.
Given the Hammers’ PSR issues, it’s unlikely that record will be broken anytime in the foreseeable future.
West Ham are heading in a different direction under Graham Potter.
The manager has made it clear he wants to rebuild West Ham around young, exciting players.
Just as significantly, Potter has stated he hates relying on individuals – as West Ham have had to continually lean on Jarrod Bowen all too often in the recent past.
Mohammed Kudus and Paqueta will be the big sacrifices to fund Potter’s rebuild.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Paqueta and West Ham await outcome of charges
First Paqueta must hope he can beat spot-fixing allegations which have hung over his head like a dark cloud for the best part of two years now.
The case scuppered Paqueta’s £85m move to Man City.
West Ham won’t get anything close to that this summer and it seems unlikely Man City or other Premier League clubs will take Paqueta on now.
The FA are pushing for Paqueta to receive a lifetime ban if he is found guilty of deliberately seeking out yellow cards to influence the betting market.
An angry Potter recently demanded closure on the Paqueta case as soon as possible so the player can move on with his life and the Hammers can start their rebuild.
It came after Paqueta burst into tears when he was booked in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with rivals Spurs.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Paqueta’s wife blasted the FA on social media after those sad scenes.
A leading journalist claimed Hammers fans may have seen the last of Paqueta against Spurs with the case having resumed ahead of a conclusion next month.
The troubled Hammers playmaker came on as a second half sub in the season finale at Ipswich.
After the final whistle Paqueta was seen deliberately standing alone as he said farewell to West Ham’s fans.
It was a sad sight for a player so talented at a club where his skills – and that pass – helped deliver their only major trophy of the last 45 years.
Paqueta drops big hint on next club if he beats spot-fixing case
Now West Ham star Paqueta has dropped a big hint on his next club if he beats spot-fixing charges.
The 27-year-old midfielder and West Ham will discover their fate in the coming weeks.
A verdict is expected in June.
Clearly if Paqueta is found guilty, he is unlikely to ever play professionally again let alone for West Ham.
If cleared, he will be one of the first players the Hammers look to sell.
What the market of suitors will look like in that scenario remains to be seen.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Paqueta has never hidden the fact his first love in football is Brazilian giants Flamengo.
He left there for AC Milan before moving on to Lyon and then West Ham.
Back in January it was reported both Flamengo and Botafogo are interested in bringing Paqueta back to Brazil if he escapes a ban.
It was also claimed Paqueta wanted to return to his homeland after all his trials and tribulations.
Now Paqueta has dropped his biggest hint yet that home is where his heart is.
Immediately after West Ham’s season-ending 3-1 win at Ipswich, Paqueta returned to Brazil.
Smiling Paqueta makes it clear his heart is at Flamengo after links
And his first stop was to watch Flamengo – nicknamed Mengão – as they beat Deportivo Tachira 1-0 in the Copa Libertadores at the world famous Maracanã.
With his family in tow, Paqueta posted a picture on Instagram with what could be a very telling caption.
“My boys’ first time at the Maracanã watching Mengão, a beautiful party and qualification,” Paqueta said.
“How good it is to be Flamengo!”
The picture is the first time Hammers fans have seen Paqueta smile in a long while.
There would be something romantic about Paqueta returning to his boyhood club after everything he has been through.
It would be a fairytale end to the saga for him and his family.
West Ham would make some money back on their biggest ever outlay at a time when any and all income is vital.
And whatever happens the Hammers and Paqueta will always have that night in Prague.
Nobody can ever take away from him or West Ham.