West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta was a no-show for our Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night.
Lucas Paqueta received a booking during West Ham United’s Europa League first-leg clash with Leverkusen, meaning that he missed the second-leg at the London Stadium.
Emerson Palmieri and Alphonse Areola missed the game as well, but were in attendance – even Flynn Downes made the journey up from Southampton to come and watch us!
Paqueta’s absence from the London Stadium for our biggest game of the season certainly raised some eyebrows.
David Moyes surely wouldn’t have been happy with the Brazilian choosing to stay at home, especially when taking into account the strong rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City.
On the whole this season, Paqueta has been magnificent for us. However, since the 26-year-old has returned from the last international break he has actually been quite poor.
The Brazilian has been losing the ball far to regularly, and his performance against Fulham last week was utterly dreadful.
Could his head have been turned? Possibly so. The fact that he wasn’t watching on from the sidelines on Thursday tells its own story really doesn’t it.
Now though, a Hammers insider has offered an explanation for his absence…
Explanation for Lucas Paqueta Bayer Leverkusen no-show
The 26-year-old former Lyon play-maker has been a game-changing player for us over the past two seasons.
It must be said though, there is a real argument to be made that he isn’t 100% committed to the football club.
His attitude over the past month or so has certainly been questionable at times.
The fact that he didn’t bother showing up to watch his teammates in action against Bayer Leverkusen felt like the death knell for his West Ham career.
Now, it has been revealed why he wasn’t in attendance, but the reason for his absence doesn’t make me feel any better!
West Ham insider Sean Whetstone took to his official X account to explain that Paqueta didn’t actually have any obligation to attend the game on Thursday night:
I’m sorry, but this just makes me even more angry! So, he didn’t come to support his teammates because he wasn’t forced to do so?
We shouldn’t read too much into it?? Are you serious? The fact that he didn’t turn up out of choice makes me read even more into the situation!
Get him gone! Emerson was also suspended, but chose to come and watch the Hammers in action against the Bundesliga side.
The Lucas Paqueta Leverkusen no-show was unforgivable as far as I’m concerned.
And now I don’t see any other outcome apart from him leaving the London Stadium in the summer transfer window.
So, so poor from Lucas.
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