PSG
- Lucas Beraldo has been a standout for Brazil and PSG this year
- The centre-back is seen as one of the most promising players in his position
- His father, Andre, has been speaking to FIFA about Lucas’s character and career progression
Ex-defender Andre Beraldo had a ten-year career as a professional player. During that time he ran out for one-time Brazilian champions Guarani, former Copa do Brasil winners Criciuma and popular clubs such as Santa Cruz.
He is the first to admit, however, that his career was no bed of roses. “That’s just the reality of the game,” he told FIFA. “Not many players make it to the top.”
It is not surprising to learn, then, that when his sons began to take an interest in football, Beraldo and his wife, Leia, had many a conversation about it. Though they ultimately decided to give them all their support, they made sure their children focused on what they had to do off the pitch.
However, in the case of the youngest, Lucas, Beraldo Sr soon realised that getting him to switch his mind off from football would be no easy task, given his love of the game and his precocious skills. “You could see it from a very early age,” said his father.
The ability he once saw on the pitches of the town of Jau, in the centre of Sao Paulo state, is clear for the rest of the world to see, much to the delight of Luis Enrique, Lucas’ coach at Paris Saint-Germain. At the age of only 20, he has also worked his way into Brazil’s rebuilding plans.
“I’ve worked really hard to get this far. My age doesn’t come into it,” said the centre-half after spending the whole 90 minutes on the pitch on his international debut: the 1-0 defeat of England at Wembley in March. “That preparation has been crucial to me being able to enjoy a day like today.”
