A year after his arrival from Brazil, Lucas Beraldo has already experienced practically everything: half a season as a starter upon his arrival then a second part of the year largely spent on the sidelines.
A year 2024 with two faces, but considered positive
It was exactly a year ago, a 20-year-old resilient left-hander whose transfer had been completed in no time arrived in Paris. Barely arrived, the man named Beraldo was entrusted with real responsibilities by a charmed Luis Enrique. A debut in the Champions Trophy just a few days after his arrival, quick starts and even a nice starting status at the end of the season. Enough to charge for 21 starts in 24 matches!
Always a candidate for two positions, central defender or left back, Beraldo has been less visible this season (11 matches, 9 starts), to the point of losing his place in the national team, and he did not try to hide it when the Brazilian media Globo interviewed him mid-week: “Last season, I arrived and I played straight away. This season I played a little less but I continue to work and prepare in the same way. It’s the coach’s choice, and he knows that he can always count on me, whatever my position: left back or central defender. »
“I may not have played much in the last few matches but I feel my progress”
Far from admitting defeat in the face of competition, Beraldo is focusing on his progress: “I’m here to bring something. I may not have played much in the last few matches but I feel my progress. I dedicate myself to the team and I try hard in training to start playing more again. I don’t put pressure on anyone. I think I do my job the right way, I’m there every day happy and smiling. I am very grateful to be able to wear the PSG jersey and always ready to help the club whatever my situation. »
Beraldo’s year 2024:
- 35 matches with PSG, 30 starts
- 21 matches as central defender, 14 as left back
- 3 goals (2 in Ligue 1, 1 in Coupe de France)
- 3 titles (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions)
Axial liner n°1 in 2025?
As the new year begins, Beraldo is clearly a replacement since Pacho is the untouchable holder of the left axis of the defense. The right axis has been owned by Marquinhos for years and Beraldo is therefore destined to help out. But the recent PSG/OL (3-1) nevertheless opened up great prospects for the 21-year-old Brazilian since it was he who replaced Marquinhos, left to rest, in the PSG starting lineup.
As in Le Havre (4-1) at the very start of the season, the left-hander was therefore aligned in the right axis, passing in front of Skriniar in this position. The Slovak is out of the club’s plans, Lucas Hernandez who has sometimes played in this position is still just getting started and Beraldo therefore has a good chance of accumulating playing time, especially this Sunday with the absence of Marquinhos. In the left axis, he also seems to be ahead of the returning Hernandez, who has entered only as a full-back since his return from injury.
While the calendar will clearly thicken in the coming weeks, being both the No. 1 solution in the left axis and the right axis should allow the Brazilian to accumulate real playing time and find the beauty dynamic from its beginnings. A departure from the Slovak would necessarily be compensated by an arrival but Beraldo finds himself in a situation where he can finally hope to play a series of matches. It remains to be efficient to maintain this status of n°1 bis of the axis. At Globo, the left-hander did not hide the fact that he was aiming for much more than that: “I want to be a pillar of PSG and the Brazilian selection. »
