- Paqueta joined West Ham in £50m deal
- Arsenal and Newcastle were among teams interested
- Aulas has dismissed West Ham as a small club
WHAT HAPPENED? The Premier League side signed the Brazilian midfielder from Lyon on Monday in a deal worth around £50 million ($58.5m), including add-ons, even though he had been linked with several other clubs, including Arsenal and Newcastle.
WHAT THEY SAID: "It's unfortunate that Lucas Paqueta is leaving, but he wanted to leave." Aulas told Canal+. "We thought we had very big clubs, we did not have them. We had to discuss with West Ham at the last moment."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Paqueta is West Ham's ninth signing of the season and is seen as a huge get for the east London side. He joins the Premier League side with the aim of impressing enough to get a first-team spot in the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM? The Hammers face a difficult test on Wednesday as they take on London rivals Tottenham.