Since the arrival of social media, players themselves give fans and club chairmen alike sometimes clear, sometimes perplexing signals when they’re planning to leave, stay or just muddy the waters: Contrasting West Ham squad posts in the last few weeks from Emerson Palmieri and Jean-Clair Todibo would seem to have been pretty straightforward statements of intent, one leaving and one planning to stay.
Another instagram post today – this time from Lucas Paquetá – back in Brazil whilst awaiting the outcome of his FA Inquiry- would seem to suggest exactly where his heart is.
Should he – receive his ‘innocent’ verdict that many now suggest is likely, Paquetá has been linked more than once with a move back to Brazil.
Most Read on West Ham News
Who can blame him, frankly, after the two bruising years he’s had, with his whole career under scrutiny waiting for the FA to get their act together and bring the threatened case against him. Their actions have already cost him his dream move and West Ham their £85 million pay day for the aborted sale to Manchester City: If he is exonerated it seems pretty likely that his preference will be to head ‘homeward’.
The photo he posted of his family attending a game at the club of his youth and the kids decked out in Flamengo kit shows he hasn’t wasted much time in heading ‘home’: The words he attached to the post say it all:
“My boys’ first time at the Maracanã [stadium] watching Mengão, [Flamengo’s nickname] a beautiful party and qualification,” Paqueta said.
“How good it is to be Flamengo!”
Preparing the ground for the future? Quite possibly. However, West Ham’s source has previously denied that any kind of a loan deal with Flamengo would work, so the Brazilian side are going to have to find a whole bundle of cash. Or else Paqueta may yet find himself sold but staying within the cash-rich Premier League.
Providing, of course, the FA obliges and produces that ‘innocent’ verdict.
Lucas Paquetá denies all of the allegations against him