Cleared after almost two years of investigation in England for suspicion of illicit betting, Lucas Paquetá spoke at length about Globo TV. The West Ham midfielder describes a period “total uncertainty”marked by anguish and the direct impact on his career. The affair broke out when he was about to join Manchester City, a transfer almost finalized before the English Federation blocked the negotiations. Paquetá says he lived these months in a mixture of frustration and fear, supported only by his family and essential psychological support. “Professionally, I missed an important step. Psychologically, it destroyed me”he confided.
The Brazilian international, recalled to the Seleção to face Senegal and Tunisia, assures that he “rebuilds” after this episode which also weighed heavily on his personal life. Paquetá also reveals having been very close to a return to Flamengo, discussed twice, including recently with Filipe Luís. With the relief brought by the acquittal, the West Ham number 10 says he wants “start from scratch”regain his place in the selection and aim for the 2026 World Cup. Relieved, but still marked, Paquetá promises to tell the story soon “its full version” of these two years which almost destroyed his career.
