Having left Olympique Lyonnais a year and a half ago, Lucas Paquetá went through different phases in England. First, mixed, since his debut with West Ham was complicated where he alternated hot and cold in a team in difficulty. Then the 2022/2023 season ended with a bang with a victory in the Europa Conference League against Fiorentina (2-1) where he delivered an offering for Jarrod Bowen on the winning goal. Satisfied with what the Brazilian had shown in the Premier League but also in the past and in the selection, Manchester City then considered recruiting him this summer.
A transfer for more than 100 million euros was also on track but it ultimately collapsed on the wire. The English FA launched an investigation after people close to the player bet on matches in which Lucas Paquetá was involved. A situation which sounded the death knell for this issue and the Sky Blues bet on Matheus Nunes. Worse, the situation has also become complicated in the selection for Lucas Paqueta who has not been called up since the start of the season and will not be until the verdict in the case is reached. If this acts as a sword of Damocles above the head of Lucas Paquetá, the latter has since regained color.
Lucas Paquetá still in the dark but very efficient
Indisputable since the start of the season and valuable in West Ham’s offensive play, he displays great complementarity with Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, just like his former partner at Olympique Lyonnais Emerson Palmieri. Author of 5 goals and 5 offerings in 25 matches this season in all competitions, he accelerated the tempo in the month of December. Last weekend against Wolverhampton (3-0), he simply distilled the three offerings of the game, leaving David Moyes stunned. “This is what Lucas Paqueta can do for us. I’m tearing my hair out at halftime and celebrating the other side because he can make passes that others can’t see and don’t make. He’s a special player. I haven’t had a lot of special players with this individual talent. explained the Scot in particular after the meeting.
“I like to treat them all fairly, but as I got older, I realized that when you have this talent, you have to let them flourish. But I must also say that his rate of work for the team over the last few months has been excellent. he continued. This Saturday against Manchester United, Lucas Paquetá once again burst onto the screen. Valuable in impact and defensive efforts, he was able to show his genius by causing goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus during a 2-0 victory. “When you need someone to find a perfect pass, Paqueta comes up with a brilliant pass for Bowen. He is not afraid, he is ready to accept making the complicated passes, to try them and to make things happen” noted David Moyes after this lovely score from the Brazilian.
Inheriting a 7.8/10 from the BBC for his performance (third total behind Kudus and Bowen), he inherited a 9 for The Independent who was amazed by his match: “just about the only player to show any real technical quality in the game. Excellent play down the left, but his biggest impact was a deft move across the defense to assist Bowen from the right side. Immediately, he configured himself for Kudus to give him perfectly in the axis. Putting the Perfidious Albion in agreement on its good form, Lucas Paquetá also remains in the sights of Manchester City according to UOL. The Sky Blues are monitoring the player’s extra-sporting situation before making a move, but he is considered the ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne if the latter does not return to his best level. If the future of Lucas Paquetá is uncertain, one certainty reigns, the Brazilian is currently enjoying the Premier League.
