Lucas Paqueta may be out of sight and very much out of mind these days but, despite returning to Brazil during the January transfer window, the Brazil international’s West Ham United story may still have another chapter to be written.
To quote head coach Filipe Luis, Paqueta is ‘suffering more than I expected’ back home in Rio.
The former West Ham United playmaker is yet to score or even provide an assist in four matches. Well, unless you count the inadvertent ‘assist’ he provided in a 1-1 draw with Internacional, giving possession away as Flamengo’s opponents raced down the other end and hit the target.
Losing the ball in key areas; a common complaint during Lucas Paqueta’s difficult final few months in England.
Considering that Nuno Espirito Santo’s outfit have won four of the six games without Paqueta – a run they are expected to continue even though West Ham should ring the changes at Burton Albion in the FA Cup – it’s fair to say he has not been missed.
ESPN Brasil raised eyebrows aplenty, though, when they reported that West Ham will have first refusal on Paqueta should Flamengo look to cash in on their record signing later down the line.
If the reigning Copa Libertadores champions receive an offer, president Luiz Eduardo Baptista – who puts himself in David Sullivan’s shoes in an interview with Spanish publication Diario AS – will have to notify the Hammers. Also, he must offer them the chance to match said bid.
Baptista reveals how Paqueta’s supposedly impossible transfer became possible, and the clauses involved in a highly-technical arrangement.
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“The relationship with West Ham was very good. They had a very clear vision of what they wanted,” the president says. “They wanted to keep Paqueta until the end of the season and we respected that, we respected West Ham’s timing.
“But we also said that we would like Paqueta to come to us now, because the Brazilian season starts now.
“If Paqueta arrived in the middle of the year, he would arrive at the end of the European season, probably go to the World Cup with Brazil. After the World Cup he would ask for a vacation, return out of shape in September, play only in October and then the season would end.
“So, we said, ‘Look, it’s important for us that Paqueta comes now.’ That’s why we paid more! West Ham said that, under those conditions, they wouldn’t accept our offer, so we made that adjustment [to the price]. A little here, a little there.
“It wasn’t a simple negotiation,” Baptista accepts. “But in any case, we have the utmost respect for West Ham. They were very fair and very direct. The negotiation was a good experience. It wasn’t a cheap signing, so you have to take many details into account.”
Baptista also confirms that the London giants will be due ‘compensation’ if Flamengo were to cash in on the £38 million winter addition. He understands why the aforementioned Sullivan may have had concerns about selling in January, amid the potential of Flamengo flipping Paqueta for a quick profit and sending back to Europe. Possibly, to a Premier League rival.
Paqueta confirmed, after all, that Tottenham and Chelsea wanted to sign him too.
“Yes, there are clauses that stipulate that, if Paqueta is sold, West Ham will receive compensation,” Baptista explains. “I think that’s perfectly legitimate.
“If I were in the place of the owner of West Ham [Sullivan], I would think that if Paqueta only plays one year in Brazil and we sell him for 70 million euros, West Ham would be at a disadvantage. I understood that it was a fair request from them.
“I said that selling Paqueta quickly wasn’t our intention, but that I understood their concern. So, we had to negotiate this because, if tomorrow an offer of 100 million euros arrives at Flamengo for Paqueta, of course I will consider the possible sale.
“It’s not Flamengo’s problem, but it’s also not fair that West Ham loses money in this transaction. So, we negotiated many details over time.
“I have no doubt that, if it weren’t for the player’s desire to return to Brazil, even if Flamengo had the 42 million euros or even more money, the negotiation for Paqueta wouldn’t have been possible. It was a happy ending because West Ham agreed to sell.”
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