Emerson Palmieri is backing close friend Lucas Paquetá and Brazil to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup!
While the wing-back plays his international football for Italy, a country he qualifies for through his mother’s ancestry, Emerson was born and grew up in the South American country, progressing through the youth ranks at Santos in the country’s São Paolo state.
The 28-year-old emerged from the same club that produced Pelé, Neymar and former Hammer Felipe Anderson with the backing of his family, who he visited in Brazil during the recent mid-season break.
Emerson played alongside Paquetá at Olympique Lyonnais last season before both moved to east London so it there is no question who Emerson will be cheering for come Friday afternoon when Tite's men face Croatia in the quarter-finals.
“All my family is Brazilian, and I am very close to them,” he explained, speaking to West Ham TV.
“I spoke with Lucas on the phone on Monday [after Brazil’s round of 16 win over South Korea]. I’m here to support him to remain in this form and win this World Cup. I've said many times before that he is a top player, everybody knows this and I'm very happy for him.”
With Italy narrowly missing out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Emerson, who was part of the Azzurri side which beat England to win UEFA Euro 2020, used the break of the domestic schedule to head back to the land of his birth.
The time was spent catching up with friends and family during period of recovery before the men’s first team attack the second half of 2022/23 season.
“It was good,” he added, on his time in South America. “It's my first time since I arrived here in England [by joining Chelsea in 2018] that I have this break in the middle of the season, so it was good to have a good time with my family and my friends back in Brazil. I recovered very well and now it's the time when we need to work hard to turn around this season.”
For the Hammers that build-up to a Boxing Day London Derby is now set to intensify after a first mid-season friendly against Cambridge United.
After Emerson replaced Aaron Cresswell with 16 minutes played, goals from Jarrod Bowen, Saïd Benrahma and Pierre Ekwah saw the Hammers come from behind to beat the U’s 4-2 at Abbey Stadium, and the No33 wants his side to continue their showing in their final two mid-season friendlies.
Before West Ham head to Arsenal for a Boxing Day London derby in the Premier League, David Moyes’ outfit will take on Udinese in Italy on Saturday 10 December and then Fulham seven days later.
Udinese sit eighth in Serie A, and is an opponent Emerson knows well, having faced and beaten them twice in the 2016/17 season whilst at Roma.
“For me, it’s always good to be in Italy,” he smiled, on this weekend's clash. “For us, it’s a tough game for sure because Udinese are playing well this season, so we have to prepare well and play well to win the game.”
