Carlo Ancelotti has explained his decision to recall Lucas Paquetá to the Brazil squad, with the West Ham midfielder back after months away from international duty.
The 27-year-old had not featured under the new manager because of the betting investigation that surrounded him, but following his clearance he has returned to the group.
Speaking at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti told **[CNN Brasil](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/selecao-brasileira/ancelotti-explica-convocacao-de-paqueta-quero-conhece-lo/)** that he sees the playmaker as someone he needs to work with directly.
_“Paquetá is on the list because, as I said, I don’t know him and I want to get to know him. He has a lot of technical quality, he is a very important midfielder who can play in different positions on the pitch, so I want to take this time to get to know him better,”_ the coach said.
CBF executive director Rodrigo Caetano also provided background on why Paquetá had been missing from previous squads. He stressed that his omission was never a punishment, but rather a measure to shield the player while the process was still ongoing.
According to Caetano, the federation and Ancelotti had agreed it was best to leave him out during the final stages of the investigation. _“Paquetá was called up in other situations until he was either judged or investigated. And we were very clear about that, even at last year’s Copa América,”_ he explained, underlining that the decision had always been about protection.
Caetano added that the midfielder and his family had gone through a difficult period and the coaching staff wanted to avoid adding more pressure. _“Now that he has his focus on West Ham and the national team, the decision became a technical one,”_ he said.
With the case closed and Paquetá cleared of wrongdoing, the midfielder is once again available to help Brazil and will now look to translate his West Ham form into international opportunities.