AC Milan have made their first signing of the winter transfer window in 21-year old midfielder Lucas Paqueta from Flamengo. PSG were also keen on signing Paqueta but the Serie A club beat them to it. Paqueta is this season’s joint-most expensive signing for AC Milan along with Mattia Caldara. Both players cost AC Milan €35 million.
Paqueta has signed a 5-year contract with the Rossoneri. One of the most talented midfielders in Brazil at present, Paqueta joined Flamengo’s youth team in 2007 and joined the senior team in 2016.
He made 65 appearances for Flamengo, scoring 13 goals and providing 5 assists. Lucas Paqueta has also made two appearances for Brazil, making his debut last year against USA.
Paqueta’s addition to AC Milan’s squad is most opportune as the club is facing an injury crisis in midfield. Giacomo Bonaventura is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury while Lucas Biglia and Andrea Bertolacci are also out for a while.
Frequently deployed as an attacking midfielder, it will be interesting to see where Gennaro Gattuso uses Paqueta. The 21-year old will join his teammates on Monday.
AC Milan are currently 5th in the Serie A table, one point behind 4th placed Lazio. The Rossoneri play their first match of 2019 next Saturday in a Coppa Italia last 16 fixture against Sampdoria. Four days later, they play the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus at Jeddah. AC Milan’s first Serie A match of 2019 is against Genoa on the 21st.
