Douglas Luiz nears confirmation of Juventus stay after turbulent two-year saga

Two years and one very expensive lesson in patience later, Douglas Luiz appears to be staying at Juventus. The Brazilian midfielder, who arrived from Aston Villa for €50 million in the summer of 2024, has gone from “next big signing” to “most expensive benchwarmer” to something resembling a comeback story. The confirmation comes after Luiz scored in a 2-0 pre-season friendly victory against Nice on July 31, a performance that did more for his Juventus career than most of the preceding 24 months combined. New coach Luciano Spalletti reportedly sees a real future for Luiz in Turin, and the player himself has made his intentions clear. From flop label to fresh start Juventus signed Luiz from Aston Villa on June 30, 2024, for €50 million on a five-year contract. Instead of the expected impact, Luiz found himself loaned out, watching from the periphery of a club that had paid a premium for his services, and Italian media labeled him a flop. Luiz was a key figure at Aston Villa, recording nine goals in the 2023-24 Premier League season and helping Unai Emery’s side qualify for the Champions League. Spalletti’s appointment has reshuffled the deck for several players at Juventus, Luiz chie...