Welcome to a transformed global landscape. The titans of Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo, have triumphed as champions of both Brazil and South America. Yet, their ambition extends even further, as they aspire to claim even greater accolades. The revamped format of last year’s FIFA Club World Cup offers them the chance to pursue loftier goals, spurring a remarkable transfer move.
In a historic deal, Flamengo has re-signed 28-year-old midfielder Lucas Paquetá from West Ham United for an unprecedented fee of €42 million. This five-year contract marks a significant acquisition, bringing Paquetá back at a time when he is expected to perform at his peak.
The Flamengo that Paquetá left seven years ago, when he transferred to AC Milan, was a vastly different entity. At the time, he became a key player amid the club’s financial restructuring, trading immediate gains for future stability and dominance.
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Flamengo’s current roster is notably deeper than the squad Paquetá once knew. The club previously relied on selling promising young talents like Paquetá and Vinícius Júnior to finance the acquisition of players returning from Europe. These targets typically fell into two categories: aging veterans, such as current coach Filipe Luís, and players who failed to meet expectations abroad, such as Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa and current striker Pedro.
Paquetá, however, stands as a unique case. As a current Brazil international with 59 caps, he represents one of the most significant signings in recent Brazilian soccer history.
What, then, aside from the newly acquired financial might, has enabled Flamengo to attract a Premier League player in his prime?
The driving force behind this transfer is Paquetá’s strong desire to return. Special circumstances influenced this decision, particularly a prolonged investigation related to accusations of spot-fixing involving deliberately receiving yellow cards as part of a betting scam; he was ultimately cleared of all allegations. However, the situation did impact his performance.
Reportedly, the scrutiny affected his form, especially as he was considered a target for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola eyeing him as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne. With a spot on the World Cup roster up for grabs, securing regular playing time with Brazil’s top club is an enticing prospect for him.
In the eight matches Carlo Ancelotti has coached Brazil, Paquetá has participated in two starts and four substitute appearances, placing him in contention for the World Cup squad. But where will he fit in the team?
Ancelotti appears to be setting up a formation with a front four, utilizing only two central midfielders: Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães. Given Casemiro’s aging, nearing 34, the question arises: Is it feasible for Brazil to maintain this structure under the intense heat of the World Cup? An adjustment to include a third midfielder seems logical, creating an opportunity for Paquetá.
However, he faces competition. Paquetá was previously ranked behind Gerson, another left-footed midfielder. Gerson, after a peculiar transfer from Flamengo to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, struggled and subsequently lost his place in the Brazil squad. He has since returned to Brazil, joining Cruzeiro earlier this year, marking the highest transfer ever made by a Brazilian club until Paquetá’s deal.
With Gerson returning to Brazil, he can now prove himself weekly in front of the home fans. This shift seems to have influenced Paquetá’s decision to come back. Bad memories also linger from Brazil’s last match against Tunisia, where he missed a crucial penalty kick that could have won the game. This return gives him the chance to improve his standing on a consistent basis.
Paquetá’s eagerness for this move coincided with Flamengo’s enthusiasm to bring him back. However, the key to making this transfer happen lay with West Ham, who were situated in the Premier League relegation zone and had just shed players like Luis Guilherme and Guido Rodríguez.
Beyond financial considerations, West Ham urgently needed talent to help steer them away from the relegation zone. It would not have benefitted Paquetá to sulk, especially with World Cup aspirations on the line, so a summer transfer seemed likely.
However, after West Ham won three consecutive matches without Paquetá, it became apparent they might survive without him, while Flamengo consistently increased their offer. There was contention over payment terms, with Flamengo wishing to extend payments until 2028. Eventually, West Ham agreed when the offer reached €42 million, finalizing the deal.
The hope now is for Flamengo to unveil their star signing during Sunday’s Brazilian Super Cup in Brasília, where they will face off against Brazilian Cup champions Corinthians.
So where will Paquetá fit in the team? His primary role is as a No. 10, a position currently occupied by the Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, last year’s best player in South America. However, Paquetá’s versatility allows him to play deeper as a central midfielder, out wide, or even as a center forward where he has showcased some of his finest performances for Brazil.
One thing is certain: he will make an impact. Paquetá is set to be a major asset for a team already brimming with talent. His most significant achievement thus far in his club career is winning the 2023 UEFA Conference League with West Ham. As Paquetá reunites with Flamengo, both he and the club are already dreaming of triumph at the 2029 Club World Cup.