Ricardo Gomes, former Brazilian defender with Paris Saint-Germain (1991-1995), spoke to L’Equipe about the situation of Lucas Beraldo (20-year-old defender) at PSG. His compatriot is experiencing difficulties, but he remains confident.
Ricardo Gomes: “It’s a rare profile with this quality of getting off the ball”.
“He arrived very early, and he’s paying the price today, but he’s still a very, very technically strong player. I’m still convinced he’s a good choice for the club. It’s a rare profile with this quality of getting off the ball. This sense of duel will take more time. He’ll continue to grow with game time and Champions League matches. “
Indeed, Lucas Beraldo is still a very young player, turning just 21 on November 24. This is all the more precocious for a central defender, where a career can be longer and the experience needed to be at the top often takes several years.
He therefore has plenty of scope to become a benchmark in world soccer. Let’s not forget either that he has enjoyed a season of almost 1.5 years without stopping, leaving the end of the Brazilian championship in the winter of 2023/2024, and that he is not playing in his preferred position: central defender.
Indeed, having been pushed into the left-back position for most of his appearances in recent months, Beraldo is undergoing a new experience, and he’s not being spared. He needs to get his bearings after changing teams and continents. Not an easy task.
However, the few times he has been lined up as a central defender, he has performed very well. There’s no doubt that with time, and being brought back to his true position (with the return of Lucas Hernandez?), we’ll have a better version of the player.
Luis Campos and Luis Enrique have both validated Lucas Beraldo’s profile, which is no mean feat given the reputation of one and the demands of the other. We’re sure to be hearing a lot more good things about the young Brazilian.
