Lucas Moura Must Now Prove PSG Right for Handing Him New Contract

Having recently completed a domestic clean sweep, Paris Saint-Germain were boosted twice thereafter by the news that both Javier Pastore and Lucas Moura have signed new contracts with the club. The respective Argentina and Brazil internationals are now tied to the French champions until 2019, with both extensions deserved after their excellent 2014-15 campaigns in Paris.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

However, while Pastore will end his season by representing Argentina at this summer’s Copa America in Chile, Lucas’ ends in frustration.

After picking up a muscular problem in a bizarre, injury-filled 2-2 Ligue 1 draw against Stade Malherbe Caen back in February, the Selecao star’s good form was derailed for the remaining three months of the term. Surgery was ultimately required to fix the problem, but the timing of the injury meant any hopes Moura had of going to Chile as part of Dunga’s Brazil squad for the Copa America were dashed.

The 22-year-old recovered enough to feature in a handful of games toward the end of the campaign, including three starting appearances, but it was too late for this summer’s South American football championship.

It was also clear in those three starts that the former Sao Paulo man was nowhere near full match fitness, so for the second time in as many years, Lucas will miss out on a major international tournament.

Petros Karadjias/Associated Press

Last summer, it was the FIFA World Cup on home soil. Lucas was denied a place in the squad last year by then-Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after an inconsistent 2013-14 season with PSG.

Les Parisiens’ No. 7 started this term with plenty of focus and determination to prove many of his critics wrong. While fit, he showed improvement and greater consistency, scoring seven times and laying on a further five goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances.

It is sad, then, for the player to be deprived of a place in Dunga’s squad after he merited at least a chance to prove himself to Scolari’s successor.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

The 51-year-old actually called Moura up to his squad following his sixth goal of the season in a 2-0 home win over Olympique de Marseille back in November, but a foot injury meant that a return to the Selecao had to wait.

What Lucas will have to do this summer is put his international disappointment behind him and take comfort from the fact that PSG decided to renew his contract.

Even if he does not have the Copa America to prove the progress he made in 2014-15, the capital club has recognised his improved displays, as well as his greater consistency, and opted to reward him. Moura came roaring back from last year’s World Cup heartache and went on to have an excellent first seven months of the season—at one point, he was arguably PSG’s best player of what was a mixed campaign.

He must do the same again in the coming season to justify the Ligue 1 giants’ faith in him and to get himself back into international contention.

Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

While there is no doubt Lucas is a fantastic player and an asset to the French champions, the team played very well—largely without him—over the final few weeks of the campaign. Depending on the moves made by Laurent Blanc and the PSG hierarchy this summer, the Brazilian might have to start the season on the bench when all of Les Parisiens’ star names are fully fit.

With that in mind, missing the Copa America could actually benefit Moura in club football terms.

Depending on how far team-mates such as Pastore and Edinson Cavani progress, he will be an automatic starter in attack for Blanc in pre-season, which gives him a window of opportunity to get back to full fitness and regain his place in the starting XI.

That will be of little consolation to Lucas right now, but if it means he goes on to play a key role in another successful season next term, then the Brazilian will surely go on to re-establish himself in the international setup.