Lucas Paquetá has spoken publicly about how he wanted to join Manchester City and even rejected offers from other top clubs. The transfer, however, slipped through his fingers.
The Brazilian speaks about the personal toll that came with it, saying he still feels the weight of a move to the Sky Blues.
The West Ham United midfielder, now 28, had been on the brink of swapping east London for the Etihad in August 2023.
At the time, negotiations were understood to be close to completion, with Manchester City viewing him as a key creative addition.
But the transfer unravelled rapidly when betting-related allegations emerged, prompting the FA to announce an investigation.
As a result, the cloud of suspicion lingered until July this year, when he was formally cleared.
Now, in an extended conversation with Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, the playmaker has broken his silence on the episode and the nearly two-year ordeal that followed.
His reflections reveal a player who still feels both the professional blow and the emotional scars of the saga.
For Paquetá, the timing could hardly have been more brutal. He was days—perhaps hours—away from securing what he considered a major step forward in his club career.
The Cityzens had opened the door to him, and he believed he was ready to walk through it. Instead, he found himself plunged into uncertainty.
Asked directly about the “psychological and social” effects of the lengthy investigation, Paquetá did not hesitate to point to the collapsed transfer as the prime casualty.
He suggested the allegations cost him not only a move, but the momentum and clarity he had built up in his career.
“Everyone knows that I really had a transfer to City. I probably would have signed the week I received the letter [from the English FA].
“Professionally speaking, I lost that, that transfer, a leap in my career,” he said.
What followed, he explained, was a period marked by anxiety and doubt—emotionally more damaging than the professional setback itself.
“Psychologically, I think that’s where I was most affected, by the fear of this indecision, the uncertainty of my future, despite knowing who I am, what I do, what I’ve done.
“But, due to the circumstances of the investigations and the way the federation handled everything, it generated fear in us.”
As he describes it, the ordeal stretched far beyond short-term frustration. For close to two years, he found himself in a holding pattern, unable to move forward and forced to live with speculation that he insists was never rooted in truth.
Even after returning to play and performing well for West Ham, he says the cloud around his name shaped both his daily life and his broader future.
While he continued to feature regularly for the Hammers and delivered strong performances, he admits the mental burden remained heavy.
Professionally, however, the bigger question is whether the path back to Manchester City—or to another elite European club—remains open.
While Paquetá was cleared in July, the months since have not produced another concrete move.
Back in August, Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola reported that Manchester City were once again assessing the possibility of signing the West Ham midfielder.
- Top Man City star suddenly left national team, reveals major reason
- Real Madrid star can’t hide it anymore, confesses Man City have a special talent
According to Nicola, City had made contact with Lucas Paquetá and his camp in each of the previous three transfer windows.
But despite those reported discussions, there was no formal approach during the summer.
With Pep Guardiola’s squad already filled with technical midfielders and City often measured in their transfer strategy, the question of whether they will return for him remains unresolved.
Paquetá’s situation at West Ham is also relatively stable. He is tied to the London club until 2027, with an option that could extend his stay by an additional year.
West Ham have positioned him as a central figure in their midfield, relying on his creativity, progressive passing, and ability to unlock defences.
This season, he has contributed four goals in 12 appearances across competitions, once again demonstrating how essential he is to the club.
