Lucas Paqueta has been hit by some instant karma for abandoning West Ham when they needed him most.

West Ham reluctantly sold Lucas Paqueta to his boyhood club Flamengo last week after he pushed to leave.

A three-week saga caused an unwanted distraction for the Hammers at a time when the focus should have been on Premier League survival.

In an announcement on the club’s website announcing the deal, West Ham stated they did everything possible to persuade Paqueta to stay but he insisted on leaving.

The 28-year-old sullied his name among many West Ham fans with his actions.

Paqueta sullied his name by forcing West Ham exit in hour of need

Especially after the club and supporters stood firmly behind Paqueta during his two-year spot-fixing case ordeal.

Some fans understand why Paqueta wanted to return to his homeland as both he and the Hammers pointed the finger of blame at the FA.

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But most connected with West Ham felt Paqueta could have given the club another four months of service to try and dig them out of the relegation hole they find themselves in.

While Paqueta will always be remembered for that pass which set up Jarrod Bowen’s winner in the last minute of the Europa Conference League final in 2023, this saga leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for many.

In his farewell statement, Paqueta said he understands many West Ham fans will “hate” him for his actions.

Now there has been some instant karma for Paqueta as he issues A grovelling apology after abandoning West Ham.

Paqueta’s West Ham chapter may be closed, but the repercussions are clearly not.

The former Hammers playmaker has been pictured crying and dancing in celebration of getting out of West Ham and returning to his first club.

Paqueta issues grovelling apology after abandoning West Ham

He was nearly in tears for a different reason overnight, though.

Paqueta’s rollercoaster career continued apace as he dealt with some instant kickback on his decision to walk out on the Hammers.

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And it culminated in an apology that may raise a wry smile among some supporters who are smarting at how events unfolded over Paqueta’s exit from east London.

When other outlets were claiming the deal was far from done, Hammers News was the first to reveal West Ham had agreed a Paqueta deal with Flamengo last week.

That report not only revealed that Paqueta’s flight had been booked but that Flamengo were in a ‘race against time’ to get the contract signed so the midfielder could be available for the club’s Brazil Super Cup showdown with Corinthians on Sunday.

Flamengo managed to get that sorted so Paqueta could make his second debut overnight.

But things did not go to plan as the former Hammer put up a contender for miss of the year by blazing over from just yards out in the dying moments to level the game against Corinthians with Flamengo trailing 1-0.

Paqueta’s horrendous miss proved even more costly moments later when Corinthians went up the other end and scored a second to make it a losing start for the Brazil international back in his home town.

The appalling miss had Flamengo boss Filipe Luis pounding the turn on his knees in disbelief.

Paqueta: ‘I was anxious, but there’s no excuse’

West Ham fans will also have struggled to keep the smile off their faces watching Paqueta speaking to the Brazilian press after his second Flamengo debut.

The miss has made all the headlines in football-mad Brazil.

And Paqueta was forced to apologise for his miss, saying he was ‘anxious’ and admitting it was so bad he had ‘no excuse’.

“I was anxious, but there’s no excuse,” Paqueta said on his missed chance in the Supercopa.

“I had to score the goal.

“I made a choice that wasn’t the best one.

“I’m going to work really hard so that next time I get the chance, I put the ball in the net.”

Paqueta was sold for £36.5m by West Ham and many feel that was actually a good fee given his poor form over the last two years.

It was a record transfer for Flamengo – and indeed Brazilian football – and it is clear Paqueta is already feeling the pressure.