In less than 90 days, what was supposed to be a dream signing for Juventus has turned into a half-nightmare. Calciomercato report how the club must now rescue “soldier” Douglas Luiz, and quickly, if they hope to reintegrate him successfully. Conceding a decisive penalty is a heavy blow, but to repeat that sinking feeling in just a few days, without time to recover from the previous setback, is even worse.
This time, the situation is more dire than the incident in Leipzig, where at least there was a comeback and an implicit forgiveness from the fans due to the positive result. Against Cagliari, it’s two points lost, and the increasingly stark impression is that Douglas is completely out of context, unable to find his place within this Juventus team.
In Juventus’ midfield, a department with fluid hierarchies, Luiz has never shone. Manager Thiago Motta has tried him in front of the defense, where he struggled. He’s been deployed as one of two central midfielders in both 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 formations, but failed to make an impact. He hasn’t provided spark in the final third, nor has he excelled in tracking back opponents.
Luiz is a player known for his ball control, but he seems misplaced in a Juventus side seeking vertical possession. The team’s dynamism appears too much for his rhythm. Indeed, it’s the pace of play that seems to be his biggest challenge, and his intermittent playing time certainly doesn’t help.
Beyond the unfortunate episodes – conceding two penalties in three days is a mix of error and misfortune – there’s a clear vortex of confusion that Luiz has fallen into. He’ll need to find the strength to escape it.
In his latest 30-minute appearance, Luiz failed to win a single duel. This is the same player who, in England, had demonstrated not only quality on the ball but also a strong, decisive stride. He was supposed to be the one to elevate Juventus to another dimension. The team has indeed changed, but certainly not because of him.
As it stands, Locatelli and Fagioli are ahead of him in the pecking order. They may not have his technical skills, but they compensate for that creative limitation with twice the running and excellent, often vertical, intentions.
