Tottenham's January signing Lucas Moura has revealed he lost friends to violence during a difficult upbringing in Sao Paulo and says he is thankful every day to be where he is now.

Lucas' hometown of Sao Paulo was once the most violent city in Latin America, with a murder rate of 52.5 people per 100,000 in 1999.

The winger made it out of poverty and into Sao Paulo FC's first team as a teenager and he was considered one of the brightest talents in world football when he joined PSG ahead of Manchester United in a £38.5million deal back in 2012.

On Friday Lucas took part in a training session in Los Angeles with children from First Star, a US non-profit that helps improve the life of foster youth, and afterwards he recalled his own difficult upbringing.

"I grew up in a really poor city," he said. "Everything was difficult. In Brazil we have a lot of problems with violence. It was difficult but I always had in my head that I would win, I would be a professional player, help my family and friends and realise my dream. So I always believed in God, I worked a lot to be here, where I am now, and I need to enjoy every day.

"I lost friends I studied with. In Brazil unfortunately it’s normal. Now, it’s a dream to play in Europe, the Premier League, the Champions League – it’s a big gift from God. I have to say thank you every day and to enjoy my life because I am so happy for everything I have."

The arrival of his friend Neymar, who is also from Sao Paulo state, forced Lucas down the pecking order at Paris Saint-Germain and he joined Spurs for £25m in January, making six League appearances last season.

After spending the past six months adapting to English football, Lucas believes he is now at his best – and he scored twice in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Roma in San Diego before impressing as Spurs trained in front of 2,000 fans in LA on Friday.

The 25-year-old wants to make history with Tottenham this season and he believes they have the quality to finally end their ten-year wait for a trophy.

"Neymar is like my brother, I love him and we have a very good close relationship," Lucas said ahead of Saturday's friendly against Barcelona in LA. "It was a little bit sad to leave him and Paris because I like the life there. But I had been there for five years and it was time to change and have a new challenge in my life.

"I wanted to play in another championship and coming here was a big opportunity for me to play in the best League in the world. I want to enjoy it and make history here.

"The relationship with the manager is very good. We always talk about the job. I believe we can do a big season, win a trophy. That’s why I am here, to win a trophy because I believe in the team, the project. We have the capacity to make history here.

"For me it was a big opportunity to change clubs and enjoy a big club like Tottenham. I am so happy to play in the Premier League and to get to know another country. That was very important for me. I can improve my game.

"Now I am ready to give my best because I will do the whole pre-season with the team. That is important because England is very different. We work a lot because the Premier League is very hard. So I will give my best and be more ready to show my talent.

"The first six months was good for adaptation and to get to know the club, my team-mates and my new life. I am now very excited to get on with the new season. For me it is the best League in the world. It has a lot of big teams and every game is very hard."

Lucas faces fierce competition for a place at Spurs with Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-Min, and last season Mauricio Pochettino admitted the Brazilian needed to improve his work off the ball.

"The manager asked me to be natural like I am every day, to enjoy the training, the games and of course to adapt the philosophy of the Premier League and how he wants to play," he explained.

"Always at a big team it’s a very hard competition. It’s not a problem. I believe in my talent. I am here to help the club. It’s a big, long season – there are a lot of games, everyone will have the opportunity. I need to be ready, to show good things, to win my place in the team – and I will do it."