Lucas Paquetá Expresses Desire to Return to Flamengo

Lucas Paquetá, the West Ham midfielder, has shared his desire to return to Flamengo, stating that he hopes to rejoin the club one day.

The Brazilian international revealed that Flamengo had approached him in May 2024, following a ten-month investigation by the English Football Association that resulted in four charges of spot-fixing against him.

After being cleared of misconduct charges, Flamengo attempted to sign Paquetá again this past summer. “The second moment when I had discussions with Flamengo came after I knew I could continue playing normally,” Paquetá told Globoesporte. “At that point, I felt an even stronger desire to return to Flamengo. Perhaps I shouldn’t be sharing this, but I had conversations with [Flamengo coach] Filipe [Luís], who is a friend, in addition to the great work he’s doing at Flamengo. I genuinely expressed my desire to return and communicated that to my agents.”

Currently in his fourth season with West Ham, Paquetá affirmed his intention to return to Flamengo eventually, though he emphasized it will not happen in the immediate future, as his contract with West Ham runs until June 2027.

“It was a challenging decision because I am 28 years old, still quite young, and have substantial market value,” he stated. “I’ve been performing well, but my desire to return was very strong. I tried my best, but ultimately, I chose to respect my club, which has been supportive and holds immense significance for me.”

“I recognized that it wasn’t the right time, but I believe the doors will always be open for me. I am confident that my return will happen at some point,” Paquetá added.

Since departing Flamengo in January 2019 for AC Milan, Paquetá has been training with the Brazilian national team in London, preparing for an international friendly against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday.