Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is eager to assess Douglas Luiz upon the player’s return from loan at Aston Villa, according to reports in Italy. Luiz will rejoin the Juventus squad for training on July 13th, but his long-term future at the club remains uncertain.
Spalletti has reportedly communicated to the Juventus board his desire to add a midfielder capable of sharing playmaking duties with Manuel Locatelli and injecting more creativity into the team’s midfield. While Stanislav Lobotka of Napoli is considered the primary target, his €25 million release clause and Aurelio De Laurentiis’s reluctance to sell within Italy have complicated matters. This has opened the door for a closer look at Luiz.
Despite previous manager’s reservations regarding Luiz’s physicality and speed, there is a belief within the club that he has not fully demonstrated his potential during his time in Turin. Juventus attempted to move Luiz on a permanent basis following his initial loan spell, first to Nottingham Forest and then back to Aston Villa on another loan with a conditional €25 million release clause, where he had previously excelled.
Juventus sporting director Giovanni Carnevali will reportedly attempt to find a permanent home for Luiz, but Spalletti is open to working with the Brazilian and attempting to revitalize his career. The manager’s past successes with players like Marcelo Brozovic at Inter and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa suggest he may be capable of unlocking Luiz’s potential. Luiz now faces the challenge of proving himself to Spalletti and avoiding the fate of other unsuccessful Brazilian players at Juventus, such as Arthur. The coming weeks, including a tour of Hong Kong and Perth, will be crucial in determining his future with the club.
