The first thing you notice about Lucas Beraldo is not the composure in possession. Or even the impressive range of passing for a centre-back. No, it's the smile, the broad, borderline maniacal grin he sports as he lines up before every game; the one that's earned him the nickname 'The Joker'.
It's certainly a little strange. But there is a method to the apparent madness. "For all those who call me crazy when I laugh and smile during the national anthem, it's a mental technique that I've been doing to get into games feeling calmer, to avoid feeling anxious," Beraldo explained in May. "And it's been working."
No arguments, there. Beraldo's work with high-performance coach Beto Ferraz has paid off big time, with the 20-year-old having just completed a €20 million (£17m/$22m) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after a breakout season at Sao Paulo...
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