Lucas Paqueta has opened up on his two-year ordeal after being embroiled in ‘the biggest betting scandal in English football history’, with the West Ham star sharing in incredible detail just how badly the saga scuppered his move to Man City.
Paqeuta, 28, was cleared of the main spot-fixing charges by an independent commission after the FA accused the Brazilian of deliberately getting booked during four Premier League matches.
He was found to have breached more minor charges relating to cooperation with the investigation but faced no financial or sporting sanction.
Paqueta, who has remained at West Ham throughout the case, told Brazilian outlet Global he now feels ‘lighter’ and is ready to ‘tell everyone my side of the story’.
‘Without a doubt, it was a very difficult time, not only for me but for my family,’ he said. ‘My wife and I went through two long, painful years, but with a happy ending.
‘This also strengthened our marriage, our history as a family: me, her, and the children. I’m happy it ended the way it did; I fought hard against it, and it’s very difficult not being able to speak, to hear various narratives and not being able to tell your side of the story.
Lucas Paqueta has opened up on his betting scandal ordeal and revealed just how close he came to joining Man City
‘It was difficult for me; I had psychological support to deal with all of this, with some of the problems.
‘Now it’s about enjoying this moment, being able to play a little lighter again, without this weight, without this fear, and being happy on the field.’
The 2023 summer transfer window saw Paqueta heavily linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s City following a strong campaign for David Moyes’s side. But the betting case saw the move break down, with the Brazilian revealing he was just days away from completing the transfer.
‘Everyone knows that I really had a transfer to City. I probably would have signed the week I received the letter (from the English Football Association). Professionally speaking, I lost that, that transfer, a leap in my career.
‘Psychologically, I think that’s where I was most affected, by the fear of this indecision, the uncertainty of my future, despite knowing who I am, what I do, what I’ve done. But, due to the circumstances of the investigations and the way the federation handled everything, it generated fear in us.’
While the City move no longer appears to be on the cards, Paqueta has been linked with a return to his boyhood club Flamengo. He revealed he has twice been approached by the South American outfit, and that he ‘tried very hard’ to return.
‘The first moment was when (Marcos) Braz was still at Flamengo, there was that contact,’ he said. ‘I know of Flamengo’s desire, and they know of my desire, my passion for the club, so it’s something that always happens.
‘As soon as I was accused, and the whole trial process was about to begin, Braz came to my house, made the offer, and asked what I thought.
The West Ham star believes he would have sealed a move to City on the week the FA opened their investigation into alleged betting offences
Paqueta said he had his heart set on a return to Flamengo but decided to stay at West Ham
‘Obviously, I always want to go back to Flamengo, but at that moment I was still a bit undecided about my decision, about what I was going to do, and then I also talked to the West Ham director and said: ‘Braz, I want to go back, I know I’ll feel good at Flamengo, but I can’t be ungrateful to the club that’s supporting me so much.’ They supported me a lot at all times, helped me in various situations, so I couldn’t force an exit from a place where I was being welcomed and respected.
‘They respected me, my wife, my family. So I said: ‘I want you to resolve this.’ But yes, this exchange with Flamengo did happen.’
Paqueta revealed that the second swoop came this summer, following the conclusion of the investigation. He admitted the approach was far more difficult to turn down.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe (Luís), who is a friend, in addition to the work he’s doing at Flamengo,’ he said. ‘I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.
‘It was a difficult decision because I’m 28 years old, it’s very young, and I still have a lot of market value outside of here. I’ve been doing my job well, but it was a very strong desire. And I tried very hard, but unfortunately, once again, I decided to respect my club, not to force anything, because it’s a club that supported me, that I have enormous affection for.
‘So I let it happen, and it really didn’t. I understood that it wasn’t the right time, but I know the doors will always be open for me. I know that at some point this return will happen.’
