Pep Guardiola’s target for Manchester City will not longer join the team this summer.
Neymar smiles while wearing the Al Nassr training kit and Pep Guardiola looks worried while wearing a suit on; a mystery player is in the middle. (Source: Al Hilal, Getty Images)
Brazil has many talented players besides Neymar Jr., and the next generation of players looks to excited Brazilian fans. Even Pep Guardiola reportedly wanted to bring in a Brazilian to Manchester City next season, but now the deal seems to be off. Mail Sport reports that a move for Lucas Paqueta to Man City is off after his FA charge for alleged breaches of betting rules. The English FA posted a statement a couple of days ago explaining the situation. It read, “It’s alleged that he directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.” Paqueta could even be banned from football for a long time if found guilty.
Mail Sport also reports that Paqueta could face a 10-year ban from football if he is found guilty. The Brazilian midfielder from West Ham United has until the 3rd of June to respond to these charges. The specified games in which the Brazilian allegedly broke the rules are in the Premier League. The statement read, “The player has been charged with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester City on 12 November 2022; Aston Villa on 12 March 2023; Leeds United on 21 May 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.”
The Brazilian player released a statement about the charges he received. Paqueta wrote on his social media pages, “I’m extremely surprised and upset to see that the FA have decided to charge me. For nine months, I’ve cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not provide any further comment.”
Paqueta to lose his spot in the Brazilian national team?
The West Ham midfielder is called up for the Brazilian national team for the 2024 Copa America this summer. The Brazilian FA has yet to comment on these charges about Paqueta, and the player is set to play for Brazil as of now. Paqueta has until June 3rd to respond to the FA charges. Brazilian fans don’t have many options for midfield positions, as the Brazilian FA originally called up five midfielders, including Paqueta.
Alongside Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes, Joao Gomes, Douglas Luiz, and Andreas Pereira were called up for the team for Copa America. Ederson from Atalanta was then added to the Brazilian national team squad, but if Paqueta is removed from the squad, the FA may consider bringing in another midfielder like Casemiro, who was not called up. Brazil is in Group D, and its opponents are Colombia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica.