West Ham are reported to have an astonishing return clause written into Lucas Paqueta’s Flamengo contract, one that activates under a single, very specific condition.
Lucas Paqueta has finally left West Ham, two-and-a-half years after he was days away from joining Man City.
The Hammers were happy to sell Paqueta to City in an £80m deal back then.
West Ham are far less enthused about offloading the Brazilian midway through a season where the club is facing the very real possibility of relegation from the Premier League.
Now after a three-week saga, West Ham have reluctantly sold Paqueta to his boyhood club Flamengo in a deal worth less than half that Man City agreement at £38m.
Shock late twist to West Ham’s Paqueta deal with Flamengo
West Ham aimed a dig at the FA and Paqueta after the move was confirmed on Wednesday.
The player himself also took aim at the FA for destroying his mental health and leaving him ‘scarred’ and unbearably homesick.
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Not only did the FA ordeal deny the 28-year-old that move to Manchester City, Paqueta said the only way he can enjoy football again was to return to Brazil.
The Hammers have insisted they did everything to persuade Paqueta to stay and help the club’s battle against relegation.
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But it proved futile and Paqueta said his desire to leave had nothing to do with West Ham’s position in the table
In an emotional statement on social media, Paqueta asked West Ham fans to understand his reasons for wanting to return to Brazil.
The 28-year-old was keen to make it clear he turned down moves to rival teams, believed to be Spurs, Chelsea and Aston Villa, – because he only wanted to go home to his first – and boyhood – club Flamengo.
West Ham made it clear in their statement that the club and Nuno Espirito Santo tried everything to persuade Paqueta to stay.
During initial talks with Flamengo, the Hammers reportedly wanted Paqueta to remain in east London on loan for the rest of the season.
West Ham have astonishing Paqueta return clause
It became clear quite quickly that was never on the table from the Black and Red side.
Although it did help give the Hammers a stronger hand in demanding the reported £38m fee over the space of 24 months.
If Paqueta is leaving for £35m, how much is Summerville worth right now? 🤑
Roma made an offer this month…
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Given Paqueta is still theoretically in his peak years and a full international, his signing represents a big coup for Flamengo.
At just £38m, there is also the chance Paqueta could be sold on for a profit by Flamengo if he rediscovers anything like his best form.
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Now it has emerged West Ham have an astonishing Paqueta return clause which activates on one condition.
The detail will surprise West Ham fans and is a clever, if unexpected, safeguard in a transfer that has been fraught with tension, risk and potential long-term consequences.
And while it seems unlikely to ever come to pass in reality, it also offers the possibility Paqueta could re-sign for the Hammers in the future.
With Paqueta heading back to Brazil, it seems it will be the last we see of him in Europe.
But that may not be strictly true.
West Ham buy-back clause activates on one condition
Because according to ESPN Brasil, if Flamengo ever decide to sell Paqueta – he could return to the London Stadium.
The report states that West Ham have insisted on a clause in Paqueta’s Flamengo contract that gives them the right of first refusal to re-sign him.
But it is only if the Rio club ever look to sell the midfielder in the future.
If that situation does come to pass, then – ESPN Brasil claims – West Ham will be notified.
The world and its wife has been having their say on the Paqueta sale.
None more notable than Pep Guardiola delivering his Paqueta move verdict after Man City famously missed out on him in that collapsed deal.
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