Douglas Luiz is delighted have returned to Aston Villa on an initial loan move
Douglas Luiz has returned to Aston Villa
Douglas Luiz has returned to Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Douglas Luiz wasn’t going to pick up the phone for any other club once Aston Villa came calling.
The 27-year-old has returned to the club 19 months after leaving for Juventus in a £42 million deal, which was necessary for Villa to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Things didn’t go to plan for Luiz in Turin, as he started only three Serie A matches last season and eventually joined Nottingham Forest on loan late in the summer window.
Forest signed the Brazilian with a conditional obligation to make the deal permanent next summer, but he was unable to rediscover the form he had shown under Unai Emery at Villa.
Now, Luiz has the chance to recapture his best level as Villa move to bolster their midfield amid an injury crisis, with Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Boubacar Kamara all sidelined.
Set to make his second debut for the club against Brentford on Sunday after joining on loan, Luiz is delighted to be back at Villa, despite having interest from numerous clubs ahead of next week’s deadline.
Villa have an option to buy Luiz in the summer for €25 million, payable over three years. Juventus could also receive up to €3.5 million in add-ons if Villa sign the midfielder permanently.
“For me, it’s so special to be here again,” he told Villa TV. “I had five great years in my career with this club. To come back here is so special for me and my family. Everyone is very happy.”
Luiz added: “I had many opportunities with many clubs trying to get me, but when Aston Villa came to me, I said we didn’t need to listen to anyone else anymore.
“I just wanted to come back here because I had five great years here. I’ve had one and a half years, which have been very difficult, after I left Aston Villa.
“I want to find a way to be great again. I know that being at Aston Villa with Unai Emery, with these players, is the best option for me.”
He continued: “The last few nights I haven’t been able to sleep; I’ve gone to bed later and I woke up early. Today I woke up at five in the morning to do my scans and everything else.
“I am very excited to play at Villa Park again, it’s such a special stadium for me. I had many good memories with the fans and with this club, and I can’t wait to be back.
“To win trophies [is the aim]. We have the opportunity in our hands. We need to train hard every day and fight in every game. This is what I want.”
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