How Beraldo's midfield display could reshape his future at Paris Saint-Germain?

A centre-back by trade, Lucas Beraldo has, at times over the course of his PSG career, occasionally also played left-back, but has slotted into midfield in both of PSG’s last two league games, their 4-0 win over Nice and their 3-1 win over Toulouse.

It’s an intriguing fit, but one that could be beneficial for all parties, as Beraldo’s biggest strengths are probably his ability with the ball at his feet, and his biggest weaknesses so far in his PSG career have been more defensive. A move to a midfield position may highlight the former and protect the latter, and would perhaps allow Beraldo’s game to develop under less scrutiny.

Beraldo's versatility could completely change his future at the club

Beraldo was solid in both of these games, completing 93% of his passes against Nice, and 86% against Toulouse. He was also solid defensively across both games, making two tackles and four interceptions and winning five of his seven ground duels.

Beraldo’s newfound versatility has the added benefit of providing Luis Enrique with yet another option for his midfield rotation, with Beraldo perhaps best suited to playing the deepest midfield role, the one which is usually performed by Vitinha. This is in addition to other rotation options across the midfield like Warren Zaire-Emery, Senny Mayulu and Kang-In Lee, all of whom have featured across the midfield three at times this season.

It’s interesting to note how many of PSG’s players have this season been playing in roles that that wouldn’t necessarily have been deemed theirs beforehand: Zaire-Emery has featured primarily as full back, Mayulu has played almost every outfield position except centre back and now Beraldo is slotting into deep midfield. It’s almost reminiscent of total football, with a belief that 11 technically and physically sound players will be able to win a match regardless of where they’ve been lined up.

Beraldo’s shift to the middle is somewhat reminiscent of a similar career ark for Marquinhos, who in 2018-19 featured in defensive midfield during PSG’s big Champions League games under Thomas Tuchel, in front of a defensive partnership of Presnel Kimpembe and Thiago Silva. Marquinhos at the time was a surprisingly effective anchor man, proving a key part of the PSG side that registered a famous win over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in November 2018.

Beraldo is actually arguably even better suited to playing a midfield role, as although he is not as defensively strong as Marquinhos, he is perhaps just as good, if not better on the ball, and more mobile, which suits the front foot approach that Enrique’s side have been instigating over the course of the Spanish coach’s tenure.

While Beraldo may not start more high profile European fixtures like tomorrow’s clash against Liverpool, he may certainly prove an interesting option for Luis Enrique off the bench, or from the start in league games where Vitinha might benefit from a rest. More versatility can only be a good problem for a manager.