Douglas Luiz has only played 55 total minutes in three matches for Juventus. The Brazilian was a significant signing for the Italian club, but has yet to start for new manager Thiago Motta.
Juventus completed the move for the former Aston Villa standout in the early stages of the summer window. The Serie A side reportedly paid €50 million for the 26-year-old and signed him to a contract until 2029, per ESPN.
The Brazilian started his career at his hometown club, Vasco da Gama, before signing with Manchester City in 2017 on a five-year contract.
However, Luiz never made a first-team appearance for City and spent two seasons on loan at Girona. In 2019, he made the move to Aston Villa, where he went on to score 20 goals in 175 appearances.
Why hasn't Douglas Luiz started for Juventus?
The main question regarding Luiz is why he's yet to start for the Old Lady, especially considering the amount they spent on him; many would assume the club would want to get their money's worth.
Journalist Andersinho Marques spoke exclusively to Juventusnews24 and noted his thoughts on why the club's big-money signing has yet to start for Motta so far.
"Thiago Motta's decision not to start Douglas Luiz in the first three games could be due to a combination of factors," Marques told the outlet. "For one, Douglas needs time to adapt to the new tactical setup and the Italian league, which can vary for each player.
"Additionally, he might not be fully fit yet. There might also be a tactical reason behind it: Motta could be planning to ease Douglas into the team gradually, especially in a central role that demands sharp game-reading, or he might prefer a more cautious approach in certain matches."
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