Paquetá’s Flamengo return? Only one thing can make it happen | OneFootball

Any possible return of Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo would depend heavily on the midfielder’s personal motivation to leave West Ham, with no active engagement from the Brazilian club at present, according to reporting from UOL. The debate around Paquetá’s future centers on the lingering match-fixing and betting allegations in England—a case that could reach resolution within days, as suggested by details in The Times.

Should Paquetá, a Flamengo academy product, be cleared of wrongdoing, his market value is expected to return to the range of €60 to €70 million. For Flamengo, that kind of valuation turns any transfer into a complex undertaking. “There’s no movement from Flamengo,” columnist Rodrigo Mattos explained on UOL’s Live do Clube, indicating the club’s stance is to wait until “things are concluded” for Paquetá in England before considering next steps.

Flamengo’s leadership is reportedly not preparing any advance negotiations or making contingency plans for a transfer. The club recognizes that West Ham would reclaim a major asset if exoneration occurs, making a low-cost deal unrealistic. Any serious bid for Paquetá would require a significant desire on the player’s part to make a move back to Brazil—potentially the result of personal dissatisfaction or frustration with his circumstances in England.

The potential verdict is expected soon, with indications from sources in England and at West Ham that Paquetá will likely be cleared at this stage. That development would quickly push his price tag back up, erasing any chance of a cut-price deal fueled by legal uncertainty.

Given these dynamics, a return to Flamengo currently depends “above all on the player’s own will,” Mattos emphasized. Unless Paquetá himself pushes to leave, and potentially accepts a reduction in salary or other major concessions, a transfer remains improbable. West Ham, with their renewed leverage if the case is closed with no sanctions, have little incentive to negotiate unless the player’s persistence tips the balance.

For now, Flamengo are adopting a wait-and-see approach, monitoring the situation and prepared to respect both the legal process and the player’s eventual wishes. Unless major new signals emerge from Paquetá or his representatives, the club’s involvement is likely to remain passive—observing rather than driving events.

(Source: UOL, The Times)

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