Nuno Espirito Santo needed no introduction, when replacing Graham Potter in the West Ham United dugout, into the talents of one Lucas Paqueta.
Barring Jarrod Bowen and perhaps Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta was arguably the most naturally-gifted and high-profile member of the Hammers roster during his first three years in the Premier League.
A Brazil international with AC Milan and Lyon on his CV.
To paraphrase sporting director Mark Noble, West Ham have one of ‘the best players in the world’ at their disposal, and he wasn’t talking about their free-scoring skipper.
So, while his return to prominence was one of the few plusses of a nightmare start to season under Graham Potter, Nuno Espirito Santo accepts that his hopes of a successful West Ham United stay may rest partly on ensuring that renaissance continues.
Nuno Espirito Santo wants to aid Lucas Paqueta’s West Ham United revival
A weight was lifted off the 28-year-old’s shoulders when Lucas Paqueta was acquitted by the FA of spot-fixing charges in pre-season. A two-year investigation had clearly taken its toll. Especially when the Football Association were pursuing a potential lifetime ban from the sport.
As close friend and Brazil teammate Bruno Guimaraes put it, Paqueta has ‘that smile’ back on his face again. A beaming grin reflected in his performances, too. The one-time Flamengo ace playing with the freedom and the flight of fancy reminiscent of his early days in claret and blue.
Nuno, unsurprisingly, is determined to keep that good feeling going.
“I think, looking backwards at previous eras, Lucas’s importance to the team was tremendous. It was tremendous,” Nuno tells DAZN Portugal ahead of Monday’s London derby with Brentford.
“There are clearly the off-field factors which have not helped. I think there was too much noise around him, that now we have to calm down and ignore.
“We will surely make the best of Lucas. Definitely, yes.”
Paqueta committed to West Ham after failed Aston Villa approach
With three goals already – including a long-range rocket against Chelsea which earned him a Goal of the Month nomination – Paqueta is already halfway to beating last season’s rather underwhelming tally.
Hammers News have been informed that Paqueta has no plans to leave West Ham in the January transfer window either, even if a bid in the region of £60 million would test David Sullivan’s resolve.
Aston Villa came the closest to striking a summer deal. But actions speak louder than words, as they say. And the nature of Paqueta’s celebration during the 3-0 pre-deadline day victory over Nottingham Forest – a shutting down of the speculation and a tossing aside of an imaginary phone – spoke volumes about his commitment to a club who stood by him during dark days.
“The way he was in pre-season, the way he’s come back, and the physical condition he’s in…” skipper Bowen said a couple of months ago, predicting a big bounceback season for the Brazilian.
“The quality he’s got, we have seen that in the last couple of years.
“I think this season, for him, is a really big season. He’s ready for it. It’s almost, not like a new signing, but you know when someone has had that [stress] on top of them and it gets taken off, they feel so free. Back to playing football, back to doing what they love, playing with a smile on their face.
“I am really, really happy [for him].”
