A failed operation to bring Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City left the Brazilian midfielder with psychological strain, the midfielder has admitted.
The 2023 summer window saw City make a strong push to sign Paqueta, with Pep Guardiola identifying the West Ham playmaker as a perfect technical fit for his evolving midfield off the back of the clubs historic Treble success.
Talks advanced rapidly, and all sides believed a deal was close until the operation was thrown into uncertainty when the Football Association opened an investigation into alleged betting-related breaches connected to Paquetas bookings across multiple Premier League matches.
Such allegations hung over the midfielder for nearly a year, derailing all transfer progress while Manchester City who had been prepared to make Paqueta one of their marquee additions stepped back from negotiations entirely.
The prolonged nature of the case meant the opportunity for a career-changing move slipped away. In the time since, Lucas Paqueta has continued to perform for West Ham while living under the cloud of an unresolved inquiry.
The saga moved forward recently when the 28-year-old was cleared of the major spot-fixing accusations by an independent commission, as a panel rejected the FAs claim that Paqueta intentionally got booked in four Premier League fixtures and was found to have breached lesser rules around cooperation.
Speaking this week in a new conversation with Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, as translated and relayed by MailSport, Lucas Paqueta has spoken out on his failed transfer to Manchester City in the summer of 2023.
Everyone knows that I really had a transfer to [Manchester] City. I probably would have signed the week I received the letter [from the English Football Association], Paqueta admitted.
The Brazil international continued, Professionally speaking, I lost that, that transfer, a leap in my career.
Psychologically, I think thats 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 Ive done.
But, due to the circumstances of the investigations and the way the federation handled everything, it generated fear in us.
With the FA case now resolved, questions naturally emerge over whether City could revive their interest, although the club have since moved on to younger midfield targets in recent windows such as Rayan Cherki, Nico Gonzalez, and Tijjani Reijnders.
West Ham, meanwhile, may soon face decisions of their own. Lucas Paquetas honesty about the emotional impact hints at unfinished business, and a player of his calibre could attract fresh interest from Europes elite once the transfer market intensifies next summer.