PAQ UP YOUR TROUBLES

’Special’ Moyes helped me deal with bets probe and got me firing again

LUCAS PAQUETA has revealed “special” David Moyes has helped him back to form and in the Brazil squad after the betting probe which scuppered a move to Manchester City.

An FA investigation into potential breaches of betting rules is still ongoing.

But it caused his summer transfer to the champions to fall through and the West Ham playmaker to be left out of the last three Brazil squads.

Paqueta, 26, has now been recalled by his former Flamengo coach Dorival Junior for the friendly with

England.

And, speaking for the first time publicly about the affair, the

£50million signing claimed he has become mentally stronger and a better player this season.

“In the beginning it was hard,” said

Paqueta. “But now

I have grown a lot mentally and I can live with that.

“I have left that behind and I can now focus on my performances.

Everything outside football, I left behind. My focus is on training, playing and developing my performances.

“David Moyes has been special for me. I have a good relationship with him. We talked about this. He wanted me on the team because of what I did last season.

“It was important because I have grown this season and have got better and better. My evolution was important from last season to this one.

“Without a shadow of doubt, the support allowed me to leave all this behind, it was essential.”

Paqueta said he had been instructed “not to comment” on the betting investigation for legal reasons. “It’s been seven months since it happened and I’m co-operating, doing what’s in my power so that it can be resolved,” he said.

City remain interested in Paqueta (above, with Moyes) – he has an £85m buyout clause in his contract this summer – but he is so important for the Hammers.

The Brazilian, who missed six matches with a calf injury in the New Year, has returned to lead last season’s Europa Conference League winners up to seventh place and into the Europa League quarter-finals.

“I have a lot of respect for my club and hope we have a good end to the season,” Paqueta said.

“We hope to qualify for Europe again through the Premier

League and we will try to win the Europa League.”

Brazil (below, in training) have also missed Paqueta in their six World Cup qualifiers since last summer and have lost three times to sit sixth in qualifying.

In his first appearance at Wembley, he is now set to reunite with ex-lyon team-mate Bruno and former Under-20 star Douglas Luiz in the experienced midfield of a young team.

“I don’t have to do anything different from what I’ve been doing at my club,” added Paqueta.

“It’s because of my work at the club that I’ve been called up and I am now here representing my country.

“Of course, now it’s a new cycle, there are new players and it’s a different idea.”

Paqueta could face Jarrod Bowen, who is having “an amazing season” and former Iron Declan Rice.

But he said: “The Brazilian team will always be favourites because of the history we have, the players we have.

“It’s going to be a great game because there are two great teams – but we’re going to try to do our best for Brazil to win.”