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Brazilian international Lucas Paquetá and his wife have expressed the significant emotional impact following the abrupt cancellation of his reported £85 million transfer to Manchester City.
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A deal that had been fully agreed upon between Manchester City and West Ham United was unexpectedly halted due to an off-field investigation related to gambling.
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As new City manager Enzo Maresca and Sporting Director Hugo Viana work on restructuring the midfield, the personal side of high-value transfers has been highlighted.
Former West Ham United player and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá has shared the distress he and his family experienced due to the failed move to Manchester City.
In the summer of 2023, City identified him as a key target to enhance their treble-winning squad, with financial details settled and medical preparations in place.
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However, the abrupt revelation of a Football Association betting investigation caused City executives to abruptly retract the move, resulting in Paquetá remaining in East London and significantly altering his career path.
This candid reflection arises as Manchester City embarks on a new chapter under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, emerging from a decade of success under Pep Guardiola. As some mainstays like Bernardo Silva depart, discussions regarding a compensation deal with Chelsea for Maresca’s services continues.
Meanwhile, Paquetá is preparing for the Brazilian national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Paquetá and his wife discuss their Man City heartbreak
In an interview for Globo’s documentary ‘Convocadas’ which delves into the lives of the wives of Brazilian national team players, Lucas Paquetá and his wife shared their experience surrounding the failed transfer to Manchester City.
“He lost the chance to join his dream team; his dream was to play for Manchester City,” revealed Paquetá’s wife, Duda Fournier. “This had a considerable impact on him.
“People may try to comprehend how distressing it was, but Lucas and I often say that no one will ever fully grasp what we went through,” she continued. “Even those closest to us can’t truly understand the depth of our feelings.”
Lucas Paquetá’s pre-match gesture towards Pep Guardiola reignites transfer speculation with Manchester City.
Paquetá reflected, saying, “This situation mostly impacted me professionally, but it also took a toll on our relationship. It became difficult to find joy, even in simple moments like playing with our children. That was really hard for me and caused me a lot of pain.”
Moving Forward Without Manchester City
Ultimately, Paquetá came to terms with the end of his aspirations of playing at the Etihad Stadium, prompting Manchester City to turn their attention towards other midfield prospects, including Matheus Nunes.
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At 28, the midfielder is diligently working to regain his focus and stability. Manchester City and Hugo Viana, in turn, are eyeing younger midfield talents to eventually replace icons like Bernardo Silva, with names such as Elliot Anderson also being discussed.
As the club navigates through these transitions to prepare for the 2026/27 Premier League season starting on Saturday, 22 August, Paquetá’s candid remarks remind us of the delicate and often unpredictable nature of the transfer market.