After scoring in West Ham’s win over Ipswich and being called up by Brazil Lucas Paqueta should have plenty to celebrate right now.
But instead West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico has been hit with two new charges by the Football Association.
Lucas Paqueta is so talented he should be West Ham’s main problem solver.
But the playmaker has, in many ways, become the club’s biggest problem.
Besides being nowhere near his brilliant best at West Ham since the turn of the year, he has effectively cost the club £85m – and the signing of Cole Palmer.
That’s after the FA and FIFA investigation into the West Ham playmaker over alleged involvement in spot-fixing relating to yellow cards saw a big deal between Man City and West Ham collapse.
Paqueta’s case is reportedly set to be heard in March with a verdict due in the summer.
But now two more charges have been added to the West Ham star’s rap sheet according to The Sun.
West Ham star Paqueta hit with new charges
The report claims The FA kept Paqueta’s phone for around eight weeks last autumn while investigators analysed his call log, messages and bank records.
During that period, Paqueta allegedly purchased a replacement handset.
But, after the FA returned his original phone, he is said to have thrown it out in what’s been described as ‘a fateful decision that has added to his rap sheet’.
“SunSport has learned that at a later date the FA went back to the Brazil playmaker to ask for more access to his phone as there were further details their investigating team wanted to check — but he was unable to locate it,” the report states.
“As a result the FA accused him of obstructing their probe with the charges issued in May, including two aggravated breaches for non-cooperation.”
The Hammers ace has headed back to South America for games against Chile and Peru.
And West Ham won’t believe what Paqueta has been doing after being hit with the new charges.
West Ham won’t believe what Paqueta has been doing after new blow
One might expect Paqueta to be down in the dumps or feeling sorry for himself amid the new charges.
This has now been hanging over the 27-year-old and West Ham for more than a year.
To madcap Paqueta, though, the whole thing seems to be water off a duck’s back.
Because while the dark clouds gather over his very future in the game, Paqueta has being keeping himself active by going surfing.
The Hammers man has taken to social media to post pictures alongside Brazil teammate and Real Madrid star Rodrygo.
Paqueta posted a series of pictures on his Instagram with surfing emojis.
It looks like his sublime balance is helping him too as he takes to the waves.
That’s certainly one way to take your mind off the biggest and most high profile case of its kind in English football.
Everyone deals with stress and pressure differently. But the West Ham man is taking that to new extremes here.
An independent three-person tribunal will now decide Paqueta’s fate.
If Paqueta is eventually found guilty then West Ham would have grounds to tear up the Brazilian’s contract as soon as the verdict is handed down.
Paqueta is West Ham’s highest earning player ever on £150k per week.
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