Normally it’d be a sign of a player reaching the top of his game: West Ham United probably have two or three truly world class players who might attract interest from Real Madrid. For them. a compliment, but for head coach Julen Lopetegui and the club – a headache, as surely Madrid along with a handful of other clubs have the ultimate ‘pulling power’ to lure a player to the pinnacle of their sport.
This report from caughtoffside.com today is just puzzling in the extreme. As they state : “Lucas Paqueta transfer: Could the West Ham star leave for Real Madrid?”
Mired in the midst of the yellow card betting allegations and with investigations and parliamentary hearings being launched this very month it would seem odd, then, for Lucas Paquetá to be linked with a move to Madrid any time soon: The club would have to sell at a ‘distressed’ i.e. rock bottom price so it makes no sense for them.
Paquetá himself had already practically chosen a deal to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City before the news of the FA investigation broke. Moving mid-crisis makes no sense to the player either.
However, we are told by the report that :”Los Blancos Star Camavinga was spotted sharing video clips of Paqueta on social media, suggesting that he’d be keen to see the Brazil international join him at the Bernabeu.” Sounds like nothing to see here then. Just one player sharing social media comments about another.
Paqueta- unlikely to be Madrid- bound any time soon
Paqueta and West Ham face an uncertain future which could result, depending on the outcomes of the pending hearings- in either a lifetime ban and a player worth ‘zero’, or a fully restored reputation and an £85 million -plus sale to Manchester City (or Real Madrid!) at some stage in the future once the whole sorry saga is brought to a conclusion.
Just not any time soon – it could be years before the whole ‘hearings process’ – in two countries – and possible appeals get resolved. Even if the allegations as they are – ever get proven.