Paquetá makes a return to Flamengo at the peak of his career. What led to this development?

Welcome to a new global landscape. Flamengo, the giants from Rio de Janeiro, have claimed the titles of champions in Brazil and South America. Yet, this achievement is not sufficient, as they aspire for more. The revised format of last year’s FIFA Club World Cup has equipped them with the resources and the chance to pursue even greater accolades. This ambition has led to a remarkable transfer acquisition.

In a record transaction for a Brazilian club amounting to €42 million, they are re-signing 28-year-old midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who is believed to be at the peak of his abilities, on a five-year deal from West Ham United.

The Flamengo that Paquetá departed for AC Milan nearly seven years ago was quite different. He spent 18 months in the first team, taking on significant responsibilities during a time when the club was undergoing financial restructuring, opting for long-term stability and dominance over immediate success.

– How has Palmeiras’ ‘Billion Generation’ performed in Europe?
– Why do Premier League clubs continue to sign each other’s players for the same fee?
– January transfer window: Evaluating major signings in men’s soccer

At that time, the Flamengo squad lacked the depth it now possesses. The strategy involved transferring promising young talents, such as Paquetá and Vinícius Júnior, to fund the return of players from Europe. These targets generally fell into two categories: veterans nearing the end of their careers, like current coach Filipe Luís, and those who had moved to Europe but did not meet expectations, such as Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa or current striker Pedro.

Paquetá, however, represents a unique situation. As a current Brazil international with 59 caps, he is undoubtedly the most significant player that Flamengo and Brazilian soccer have managed to acquire in recent times.

<pSo, aside from their newly acquired financial strength, how has Flamengo succeeded in attracting a Premier League player in his prime?

This transfer is occurring primarily because Paquetá was eager for it to materialize. There are specific circumstances involved, particularly the extensive investigation regarding his alleged involvement in spot-fixing—specifically, intentionally receiving yellow cards as part of a betting scheme—though he was ultimately exonerated.

These events reportedly had an impact. The legal scrutiny contributed to a decline in his performance, coinciding with a moment when he seemed close to joining Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola had identified him as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne. With a World Cup spot at stake, regular playing time at Brazil’s top club presents an enticing opportunity for a Seleção hopeful.

Under Carlo Ancelotti’s management, Paquetá has started two of the eight matches and has come off the bench in four. He remains a strong contender for a place in the World Cup squad. But what about the team dynamics?

Ancelotti appears to be structuring the team with a front four, leaving only two players in central midfield: Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães. However, with Casemiro nearing 34, a significant question arises: Can Brazil effectively play this way in the extreme heat expected during the World Cup? The likely alternative would involve adding a third midfielder, which would be Paquetá’s role.

Yet, he faces competition. For a time, Paquetá was behind Gerson, another left-footed midfielder, in the selection hierarchy. However, following the Club World Cup, Gerson made an unexpected move to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, which did not pan out; he fell off the radar and lost his place in the Brazil squad. Consequently, he returned, joining Cruzeiro earlier this year in what was, until the Paquetá transfer, the most expensive signing ever made by a Brazilian club.

Gerson will now have the opportunity to assert his claims weekly in front of the Brazilian audience. This situation seems to have influenced Paquetá’s decision. There are unpleasant memories from Brazil’s last match in November against Tunisia, where they were tied 1-1 and had a chance to win with a late penalty. Paquetá took the shot but missed, sending it high over the bar. Returning home now gives him the chance to make a more favorable impression on a regular basis.

Thus, Paquetá was eager for the transfer, and Flamengo was highly motivated to secure him. However, the crucial aspect of the move was convincing West Ham to agree to the deal. This proved challenging, as the club is currently in the Premier League relegation zone and has recently offloaded players like Luis Guilherme and Guido Rodríguez.

Beyond the financial aspect, West Ham’s pressing need was for talent to help them climb the table. Given that it would not be beneficial for Paquetá to sulk long-term—nothing would jeopardize his World Cup chances more—it seemed likely that the transfer would occur in the summer.

However, after West Ham won three consecutive matches without their Brazilian playmaker, it appeared they might manage without him, prompting Flamengo to increase their offer. There was a disagreement over the payment terms, with Flamengo wishing to extend payments until 2028. West Ham only agreed once Flamengo raised the offer to €42 million, finalizing the deal.

The expectation is that Flamengo will introduce their exciting new signing at Sunday’s Brazilian Super Cup in Brasilia, where they will face Brazilian Cup winners Corinthians as league champions.

That said, where might Paquetá fit into the lineup? His preferred position is as a No. 10, where Flamengo already features Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who was named the best player in South America last year. Nevertheless, Paquetá is highly adaptable. He can play deeper as a central midfielder or on the wing, where he has delivered some of his finest performances for Brazil, and he can even function as a center forward.

One thing is certain: he will have a role to play. He is expected to be a significant addition to a squad already rich in talent. The pinnacle of his club career thus far is the 2023 UEFA Conference League victory with West Ham. With 3½ years ahead, Paquetá and Flamengo are already envisioning the 2029 Club World Cup.