PSG centre-back Lucas Beraldo (21) has handed in a transfer request to the Ligue 1 side’s executives during the Club World Cup tournament, according to a report from The team. The Brazil international wants to increase his playing time and prove his worth elsewhere. Beraldo joined PSG from São Paulo eighteen months ago in a €20m deal. The centre-back is reportedly happy in Paris and grateful to flourish in an environment as competitive as PSG’s.

But Beraldo is aware he is seen as a backup player to be called upon when one of the two starting centre-backs is unavailable. Beraldo started Sunday’s Club World Cup final in the absence of Willian Pacho, and he struggled badly to contain Cole Palmer and João Pedro. But the manner in which he filled in for Marquinhos in the Champions League quarter-finals against Aston Villa fuelled his confidence in his ability to belong at the highest level. And with the 2026 World Cup looming in less than a year, the Brazil international is reportedly ready to take a leap of faith.

PSG have been surprised by Beraldo’s transfer request. But given the Champions League winners intend to build on with players fully committed to Luis Enrique’s project, PSG have agreed in principle to part ways with him under certain conditions. Those conditions are the signing of PSG’s primary target at the back – Bournemouth’s Illya Zabarnyi – and for Beraldo to command a sizable transfer fee, probably above the €30m mark.

Tezz | Bastien Horse