Lucas Paquetá Reveals He Wanted Flamengo Loan After Betting Scandal

‎West Ham midfielder, Lucas Paquetá, said he asked to be loaned back to Flamengo this summer after the Premier League betting controversy.

‎Paquetá was cleared of spot-fixing allegations earlier in the season but received a warning from the FA for not fully cooperating with the investigation.

‎The FA had alleged that he deliberately picked up bookings in four matches to influence betting, but an independent commission ruled the charges unproven in July 2025, stating insufficient evidence.

‎The controversy effectively ended any hopes of a move to Manchester City in 2023, and he says he wanted to leave West Ham this summer.

‎”The second moment (that he had talks with Flamengo), incredibly enough, was when I already knew I could continue playing normally (after the betting investigation),” Paqueta told Globoesporte.

‎”That’s when I felt even more of a desire to return to Flamengo. Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe (Luis), who is a friend, in addition to the work he’s doing at Flamengo.

‎”I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.

‎”It was a difficult decision because I’m 28 years old, I’m very young, and I still have a lot of market value out here.

‎”I’ve been doing my job well, but it was a powerful desire. I tried very hard, but unfortunately, once again, I decided to respect my club and not force anything, because it’s a club that supported me and that I have enormous affection for.

‎”I understood that it wasn’t the right time, but I know the doors will always be open for me. I know that at some point this turn will happen.”