Juventus’ big-money signing Douglas Luiz has been a puzzling figure so far this season. The Brazilian midfielder, acquired from Aston Villa for €50 million after an impressive 2023-24 campaign with 10 goals and 10 assists, was expected to be a key player in Thiago Motta’s midfield. However, he has seen limited playing time, sparking questions among fans.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how despite being Juventus’ first official signing under Motta and the second most expensive after Teun Koopmeiners, Luiz has played significantly fewer minutes than his Dutch counterpart. While fans see this as a mystery, especially after three 0-0 draws in the league, the club views the situation differently.
Motta, drawing from his own experience of adapting to new countries and leagues, is taking a cautious approach with Luiz. The coach believes in protecting the player by introducing him only when he can make a real difference. “Everything is possible in football,” Motta said recently when asked about pairing Luiz with Koopmeiners.
The Brazilian’s slow integration is attributed to his late arrival after the Copa America and the need to adapt to new tactical demands and training methods. The club points to past examples like Pavel Nedved and Miralem Pjanic, who also took time to settle at Juventus.
However, signs suggest Luiz’s full debut may be imminent, possibly as soon as the upcoming match against Genoa. As he reaches peak fitness and better understands Motta’s system, which differs from his role at Aston Villa, Luiz is expected to play a crucial part in quickening Juventus’ play.
Motta sees Luiz as more than just an expensive acquisition. He’s viewed as the technical lynchpin who can speed up the team’s build-up play, reducing touches and increasing quick, penetrating passes to create more scoring opportunities. With a solid defensive foundation established, Juventus is now ready to unleash Luiz’s creative abilities to enhance their attacking prowess.
