West Ham‘s pre-season in England began this Tuesday (8), however, Lucas Paquetá‘s presence in the team is still undefined for the 2025/26 season. The midfielder remains awaiting the resolution of the legal proceedings to which he is responding.
There is still no conclusion to the accusation of match-fixing against the Brazilian player, a situation that has caused discomfort at the English club, as reported by the English portal The Sun.
One of the factors that increases dissatisfaction is the fact that a month has passed since the end of the trial, which took place on June 4, without a final verdict having been announced.
The initial forecast suggests the decision could be delayed until August, which could delay West Ham’s planning for next season. This means the board will have difficulty defining strategies and finding reinforcements if the player needs to be replaced.
This uncertainty has negative impacts on both sides. While the club sees its plans compromised, Lucas Paquetá remains awaiting a decision on his own professional future. The impasse is damaging the internal environment and making it difficult for the club to understand potential reinforcements.
Emotional damage caused to Lucas Paquetá
In an internal assessment, the English club highlighted the emotional toll the situation took on the Brazilian player. West Ham believes the pressure caused by the trial impacted the 27-year-old’s performance, especially during the final games of the previous season.
During a match against Tottenham, Lucas Paquetá became emotional after receiving a yellow card, an episode that illustrates the effects of this delicate situation. West Ham is concerned about how uncertainty could affect the start of a new phase of work, especially on the emotional side of those involved.
The club’s board is considering negotiating Lucas Paquetá if an offer arises, but will only make a decision after the outcome of the legal proceedings. Among those potentially interested in the player is Flamengo, a Brazilian club closely monitoring the situation.
The charges against Lucas Paquetá
The Football Association (FA) has made serious allegations against Paquetá, claiming the midfielder was intentionally booked in four Premier League games to benefit punters.
The matches under investigation include clashes against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth. In addition, the FA alleges that the Brazilian would have shared privileged information with people interested in profiting from sports betting.
The case reached alarming proportions when evidence emerged that family members and acquaintances of the player had made specific bets. These people had allegedly bet that Paquetá would receive a yellow card at certain moments in the aforementioned matches.
Throughout the process, Lucas Paquetá maintained a firm stance in denying the allegations. The Brazilian midfielder publicly declared his innocence and expressed confidence in his acquittal.
“I categorically deny these false allegations and am confident that I will be acquitted,” the player said in an official statement released by his lawyers.
