Lucas Beraldo: "It felt like a dream come true"

Lucas, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO JOIN Paris Saint-Germain? 

"Signing that contract with Paris Saint-Germain was a unique feeling. My whole family and my whole entourage were there, and it was a dream come true, not only for me but also for my loved ones. It's really rewarding to represent a club as big as Paris Saint-Germain, and I hope to do so for many more seasons. It was really special to share that moment with my parents and my fiancée and to sign for Paris until 2028. It was a long road for me to get here and a dream come true."

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE SQUAD? 

"It was all new to me; I'd only ever seen these players on TV. They're the best players in the world, so being on the pitch with them and training with them is sensational. Particularly in my first training session, I was impressed by how good they all were, so I think that 'impressive' is the right word for that first session."

YOU ALSO GOT TO SEE Campus PSG...

"Yes, I'd never seen anything like it before in my life. I think that it's one of the biggest training grounds in Europe. The pitches, the staff, everything about the club... I was blown away."

how have you adapted to the club and to the city?

"It was hard at first because when I arrived, it started to snow, but Marquinhos told me, "It'll pass," and that's what happened. It's sunny now, which is good because it's helping me even more to adapt. I think that everything has happened very quickly. I wasn't expecting to make my debut in the first game of the year and to win a title straight away. It was a surprise, and I'm really grateful to the coach, to Marquinhos and to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome here and who made me feel comfortable enough to show what I can do on the pitch and to help the team."

TWO DAYS AFTER JOINING, YOU WERE ALREADY MAKING YOUR DEBUT WITH Paris…

"I knew that I'd play, but I didn't know how the fans would welcome me or that they would applaud me like they did when I came on. Every time I got the ball, the fans sang my name. It was an absolute dream and was really rewarding to experience a moment like that here. It was a big moment, not just for me but also for my entire family, who were delighted to see the recognition that the fans were giving me. That helped me a lot and still helps me now, which just shows how warmly the fans have welcomed me to Paris Saint-Germain and how much confidence they're giving me to keep going."

YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE FANS THERE. WHat do you make OF THE Parc des Princes?

"Even when I first went there in 2019, I was impressed by the fans and by the stadium itself, so now, being able to experience that on the pitch and to hear the fans singing really is sensational."

THAT FIRST GAME ALSO GAVE YOU YOUR FIRST TROPHY WITH PARIS…

"There's no way to express how it felt to win a trophy so soon after joining and to play a part in it with my teammates. I think that I'd prepared myself for it but was just waiting for the right occasion. Of course, it was quite early on, but I got the chance to lift a trophy in my first game. Kylian giving me the trophy to show to the fans was a really rewarding moment to experience and one that will always be a part of my story.

"It's still a dream come true. I say that because I've got to where I'd always wanted to be. I was still a bit nervous because it was my debut, but I think that it went well, and most importantly, we emerged from it victorious. As I said, Marquinhos has also given me a lot of confidence in terms of understanding the other players a bit more, and I'm grateful to them for giving me such a warm welcome and for giving me those moments."

A FEW WEEKS LATER, you were given your first start in ligue 1...

"This is a new league for me. Ligue 1 is very difficult, and there are a lot of quality players. I think that we played really well in that game against Brest, which was my first as a Ligue 1 player, and I think that I managed to do what I wanted to do to help the team."

then, in february, you made your Champions League debut…

"It felt like a dream come true. I'd dreamt of playing in the Champions League ever since I was a kid. I got to hear the Champions League anthem and to enjoy that moment in the best way possible. With all of the fans singing and the atmosphere of a Champions League night at the Parc des Princes... I think that anyone who dreams of playing football also dreams of playing in the Champions League and of representing a club as big as Paris Saint-Germain, so it was a dream come true for me and for my family.

"Champions League games are always very difficult and very intense, but we managed to get the job done, to do our bit at home and to meet the manager's expectations. I think that we now need to keep our feet on the ground and to stay humble. We can't take our foot off the gas or see ourselves as better than the rest. That way of thinking is also helping me to keep my feet on the ground and to stay focused on my aim."

AT THE START OF MARCH, YOU WERE CALLED UP BY BRAZIL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR YOU, RIGHT?

"I think that I'd been waiting for that moment for my whole life. Playing for Brazil has been a dream of mine ever since I was little. I think that every Brazil player, just like me, has said that they had dreamt of being a footballer and dreamt of playing for their national team one day, and I've managed to get there early. I'm really happy about that, but I want to do even more to establish myself within the Brazil team rather than just being in it intermittently. I hope to honour my country in the best way possible."

you recently added a new string to your bow with paris: goalscoring. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT your GOAL AGAINST NICE?

"All I saw was the ball leaving Vitinha's foot and then it nestling in the back of the net. I didn't even realise that I'd headed it in. I then went and celebrated it, which was incredible, and I think that it was even more special because it was at home, at the Parc des Princes, and because the fans were singing my name. It was just incredible."

WITH EACH GAME THAT GOES BY, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GAINING THE TRUST OF LUIS ENRIQUE. WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH HIM?

"I'm really grateful to Luis Enrique for the opportunity that he's given me to represent Paris Saint-Germain. I actually think that without him, I might not be here today, so I'm really grateful to him for bringing me to the club. I got the chance to talk to him and to ask him questions, and he's always there to help as well as wanting the best for every player.

"I'm still just starting out. I was hoping to play a few games but not the majority of them. I think that the manager has given me confidence, and I'm continuously improving, although I still have a lot of progress to make. I think that I can help the club and my teammates to achieve our aims and that what I need to show him is that I can help the team however he wants me to. If he needs me to play as a left-back, as a centre-back or as a right-back, I can do so to help the squad and the team."