“He could play for any team” – Manager on whether he’s signing West Ham star…
Lucas Paquetá remains in the spotlight in Brazil as Flamengo fans continue to push for a potential return, and now head coach Filipe Luís has broken his silence on the matter, as told by Brazilian outlet Terra.
Speaking after his side’s win over Atlético Mineiro, the former Chelsea defender – now managing the Rio de Janeiro club – was asked directly about the possibility of Paquetá rejoining the club. The midfielder, currently at West Ham United, has been heavily linked with a move back to Rio de Janeiro amid legal uncertainty surrounding his career in England.
“He’s not our player. He belongs to a Premier League club, one of the best in Europe. We have to respect that,” the manager told reporters. “Paquetá has a big history here, the fans love him, and I have no doubt he could play for any team in the world.”
His future remains unresolved as he awaits the verdict of a match-fixing investigation led by the English FA. The process has been dragging on for months, with no official decision released yet.
According to the report, Flamengo have held initial conversations with the player’s camp. While a return is not yet close, we already covered that the idea has not been ruled out, especially if the player is cleared or receives a punishment limited to English football.
Financial terms remain a major obstacle. West Ham would be willing to sell the midfielder for £30m. That figure, coupled with the legal uncertainty, complicates any immediate deal. Still, the possibility has stirred excitement among Flamengo supporters, who continue to campaign for his return on social media.
Whether a move materialises depends on more than just football. Paquetá’s next chapter is tied directly to the verdict expected from the FA – a decision that could either end his career in England or open the door to a new beginning in Brazil.
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