Lucas Moura says football saved him from a life of crime

Lucas started his career at the club that bares the name of the city he grew up in, but his personal circumstances were by no means the most comfortable. 

Lucas, a devout Christian and family man, with a wife and kids at 26 years of age, stayed away from the life of crime that some of his contemporaries went down, with football his only interest. 

Speaking of his childhood the former PSG man opened up: ''It was very difficult when I was young because there are problems with violence, gangs, guns, drugs - a criminal life,'' he said. 

''I had friends that choose a criminal life. Some of them are in prison and some of them are dead. They chose the bad way.

''I played a lot of football in the street. My dream was to become a footballer - that's why I didn't go to the bad way. I always believed I could realise my dream and give another life to my family.''

Lucas swapped Paris for London in January 2018 and although he struggled to make an impact in his first few months at Tottenham, but this season he has kicked on and impressed in the Premier League.

He won his first Brazil call up in the recent international break after his goof form, and he says he is now getting used to life in England's top flight. 

''The first five months was to adapt to the new life, the new championship, the new coach, a new country, a new club,'' he added.

''Here the game is so dynamic, the intensity is so high. I hope I'm a little far from my best. I'm playing well but can do better.''