President reacts after Newcastle bid for his ‘world star’, wants £67m

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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has made some interesting claims about Lucas Paqueta’s future amid reports that the Ligue 1 star turned down a move to Premier League strugglers Newcastle United, speaking to Europe1. 

Eyebrows were raised when Lyon spent £20 million on bringing Paqueta to France in the summer of 2020.

And not just because that made the Brazil international one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history. 

£20 million is a lot of money for any French club. Well, any French club not bankrolled by the Qatari Royal family that is.

Especially in the height of the pandemic, the COVID-19 crisis forcing the 2019/20 Ligue 1 campaign to be curtailed with a third of the season remaining.

The collapse of Mediapro’s multi-billion euro TV deal was a classic case of kicking a league when it’s down. 

But Aulas always knew that, even in those trying times, Paqueta was an opportunity that could not be missed.

How can Newcastle lure Lucas Paqueta away from Lyon?

According to Le10 Sport, nouveau-riche Newcastle made a £34 million bid for the former AC Milan starlet in December.

Eddie Howe’s relegation-threatened side were also willing to make Paqueta, described by team-mate Jerome Boateng as a future ‘world star’ their best-paid player on £180,000-a-week. 

Much to Aulas’ delight, however, Paqueta rebuffed Newcastle’s advances.

That does not mean, however, that the Rio-born 24-year-old will follow in the footsteps of compatriot Juninho Pernambucano and commit his peak years to Les Gones. 

“I made the decision to sign him, and I did it alone. It was necessary to shell out 21 million euros overnight, in the middle of the pandemic,” says the always-outspoken Aulas. 

Lyon’s long-serving president admits that a club with ‘a lot of money’ recently made an approach for Paqueta. A Newcastle side now owned by Saudi Arabian billionaires certainly tick that particular box. 

“They have a lot of money but it is confidential,” adds Aulas, who also rules out a move to PSG for Paqueta.

“He will stay with us. He wants out (to leave) in the medium term.”

A move to St James’ Park appears to be off the cards for now then. Though no one will be signing Paqueta unless they are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

“As I always say, for 80 million euros (£67 million) we are always reflecting,” Aulas.