New Lucas Paqueta charge twist emerges at West Ham United
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta asked David Moyes not to pick him in one of the matches he’s accused of being deliberately booked in, according to The Sun.
The Brazilian wanted to sit out the Irons’ first game of the 2023-24 Premier League season against Bournemouth, hoping to avoid the chance of injury with a potential transfer on the cards.
Moyes picked him to start though despite reports of Manchester City circling, and Paqueta played the full 90 minutes before picking up a yellow card for handball in second-half stoppage time.
That booking is one of the four the FA highlighted in their spot-fixing investigation of the 26-year-old and reportedly triggered the investigation itself which could see Paqueta receive a lengthy ban from the sport.
Paqueta pays price after plea to David Moyes
It’s almost ironic that in a game Paqueta sought to miss to force a transfer, he produced a handball which could scupper any future chance of playing for Manchester City – or West Ham for that matter.
Facing a ban of 10 years and above, Paqueta could be waving goodbye to playing football at the highest level again, with his Bournemouth booking one of four pieces of serious evidence that has come under the microscope in the FA’s investigation.
The handball in question not only looked fairly blatant but also came deep in added time, adding fuel to the idea that Paqueta was looking to be booked in that match specifically.
A move to Manchester City had been tipped by Martin Hardy to come to fruition this summer, but the sudden charges laid against Paqueta have left the transfer – and potentially his entire career – in tatters.
West Ham may be wishing in hindsight that Paqueta had completed his move to City – these charges would then likely be their problem – but will now have to wait and see if their number 10 will be allowed to play football again, let alone seal a big-money transfer away from the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, an update has emerged on the club’s pursuit to sign a striker who scored 33 goals in 2023/24.
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