Douglas Luiz has been ‘welcomed back’ into the Juventus squad despite being reprimanded over his failure to report promptly for pre-season training – but speculation over a return to the Premier League continues to swirl.
Juventus director François Modesto revealed that the Brazilian midfielder, who endured a difficult first season in Turin, had been brought back into the fold after acknowledging he made a mistake.
‘He was welcomed back,’ Modesto told Tuttosport. ‘He knows he made a mistake, we made sure he understood that. We called him in and made him realise what Juventus means. Douglas is very sorry, but this is in the past now and he is back in the group.’
Luiz, 27, joined Juve last summer from Aston Villa in a £42million move but started just three Serie A games in a frustrating debut campaign. He featured only once during the club’s Club World Cup run – a late substitute appearance in a 4-0 win over Al Ain – and has struggled to convince new manager Igor Tudor.
The former Manchester City man was also criticised last month for failing to report for the first day of pre-season training – a decision that did not go unnoticed in Turin and is expected to have disciplinary consequences. However, Modesto’s latest comments suggest the club are now focused on reintegration.
Even so, Luiz’s future remains uncertain. Juventus are reportedly open to letting him leave this summer, but only on a permanent basis. Nottingham Forest and Everton are among the clubs interested in signing the 18-cap Brazil international, although both have been exploring loan deals with options to buy – a formula Juve are said to be reluctant to accept.
Douglas Luiz has been welcomed back into Juventus’ squad, the club director has revealed
Luiz was reprimanded over his failure to report promptly for pre-season training this summer
The Brazilian has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest and Everton reportedly interested
Luiz is currently valued at around £26m and remains a player admired in England after five strong years at Aston Villa, where he earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders.
The Brazilian has not hidden his frustration over how things have played out in Italy. Back in April, he responded to online criticism by questioning why he hadn’t been given a proper run in the team.
‘Now I want you to answer me: why hasn’t a signing like mine played two consecutive games with this shirt?’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I had just had one of the best seasons of my career, one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.’
Despite reaffirming his commitment to the club, Luiz’s off-field life has also been under the spotlight. He reportedly split from girlfriend and fellow Juventus player Alisha Lehmann in May, with reports in Italy suggesting they had differing views on their futures in Turin. While Lehmann is expected to stay, Luiz may yet move on.
