Luiz proves point to former boss Pep
DOUGLAS LUIZ is coveted by some of the most successful clubs in Europe, but the best of the lot probably wish he still played for them.
The Aston Villa midfielder is one of the top targets for Arsenal, who bid for him three times last year to no avail.
Yet Luiz is tied to a long-term contract and Villa are in no mood to sell.
If Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are worth more than £100million, Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris will reason, why should he ask any less for Luiz?
And with Villa firm contenders for a Champions League spot, they would be crazy to weaken their side in January.
Yet Luiz could have been playing for Manchester City last night — and their manager Pep Guardiola must have felt wistful as he watched Luiz and Boubacar Kamara boss the centre of the pitch in the first half.
Luiz was on City’s books from 2017 to 2019 after joining from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. He never made a firstteam appearance in that period, however, and was sold to Villa after they were promoted in 2019.
The deal came with a twoyear buy-back clause, but that has long since expired. Should City want him back, they would surely have to break their transfer record, the £100m paid in 2021 for another of Aston Villa’s finest, Jack Grealish.
Luiz often flattered to deceive in his first three years at Villa Park. Under the management of Dean Smith, he alternated bright displays with grey ones, and like much of the squad was sliding backwards under Steven Gerrard.
But Unai Emery turned up
just in time in the autumn of 2022. He gave the squad a collective shake and now Luiz is one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League.
He has regained his place in the Brazil squad, too, and will have his sights set on making an appearance at next summer’s Copa America. Asked about Arsenal’s interest, Luiz told Sky Sports: ‘I am very happy to hear the stories, but I am here at Aston Villa. My focus is totally here. I don’t spend a lot of time looking at the stories. I see them, but I don’t focus on that and I’m not looking at it every day. My head is here at Aston Villa.’
This is undoubtedly Villa’s most exciting side since Martin O’Neill’s team challenged at the top end of the table in the early part of the 2000s. Luiz is not the only player who will be attracting interest from Champions League clubs.
The role of Emery and those who run the football side of this club is to convince their rising stars that they can fulfil their ambitions in the West Midlands.
And so far, the Villa manager is making a seriously convincing case.