Lucas Paqueta held roadside heart-to-heart talks with Nuno Espirito Santo as he struggled with the mental anguish of remaining in the Premier League with West Ham United, GIVEMESPORT understands.
The Brazilian is now back home and already playing for Flamengo after forcing through a £36.5 million move during last month’s transfer window, with the club reluctantly accepting a bid for his services despite them facing a relegation battle this season.
But GMS sources have told how the midfielder reached a point in the run-up to his departure, where he could no longer face the physical prospect of even turning up for work with The Hammers.
Sources: Paqueta Held Talks With Nuno in His Car
Lucas Paqueta
GMS sources have been told that playmaker Paqueta was driving to the club’s East London training ground but became so upset that he pulled over in his car and telephoned head coach Nuno Espirito Santo. The pair had a heartfelt conversation, and Paqueta was sent home because he felt he had reached the end of the line in his career in English football and simply could not face going to work.
Understanding boss Nuno accepted the player’s predicament and excused him from duty. Paqueta quickly left for his homeland in controversial circumstances.
Paqueta was left deeply upset by the scrutiny of a two-year investigation into alleged spot-fixing offences. He was accused of deliberately getting booked on four occasions between November 2022 and August 2023. The player denied all the charges, which were eventually found unproven.
The FA said 253 separate bettors wagered that Paqueta would be yellow-carded in those games and that 27 of them could be linked to the popular West Ham forward.
The hangover from the scrutiny he was placed under eventually brought his time in England to a premature end.
Lucas Paqueta in action for West Ham United
Tottenham and Chelsea were among clubs who tried to sign Paqueta last month, but he was determined to go home and start afresh with Flamengo.
The club that launched him on the road to stardom took their time coming to a settlement, but West Ham chairman David Sullivan reluctantly agreed to let him go as a gesture of goodwill for the service he had provided over four years.
The high point was his through ball to forward Jarrod Bowen from which West Ham scored and won the 2023 UEFA Conference League - the club’s first major trophy triumph in 43 years.
Paqueta’s frustrations got the better of him towards the end of his time in the Premier League when he picked up a second yellow card for a bizarre public rant at referee Darren England as West Ham lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool in November. The 28-year-old later blamed his outburst on pent-up emotion due to a perceived lack of support provided by the FA during their lengthy investigation.
His final appearance for West Ham was in the dismal 2-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on January 6. Since then, the team has played four games and lost only once in his absence.
Lucas Paqueta in action for West Ham United Related
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