Juventus newcomer lauded for 'more decisive' impact after Aston Villa move, says pundit

Juventus v Roma Serie A
Juventus v Roma Serie A / Ciancaphoto Studio/GettyImages
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Douglas Luiz was one of Juventus’ high-profile signings this past summer, but he’s had limited action so far. The Brazilian midfielder has only played 55 minutes across three matches and is yet to make a start under new manager Thiago Motta.

Juventus secured Luiz early in the transfer window, paying €50 million to bring the former Aston Villa standout to Turin. According to ESPN, the 26-year-old signed a contract that runs until 2029.

Luiz began his career with his hometown club, Vasco da Gama, before signing a five-year deal with Manchester City in 2017.

Despite signing with City, he never played for their first team and spent two seasons on loan at Girona. In 2019, he made the switch to Aston Villa, where he scored 20 goals in 175 appearances.

What are the concerns about Douglas Luiz?

With club football back, Luiz will attempt to find his footing at Juventus, but one pundit cites a positive outlook regarding the former Aston Villa standout's arrival to Turin.

"Last year, Douglas Luiz really improved under [Unai] Emery," Sky Sports' Andrea Marinozzi stated (h/t TuttoJuve). "Previously, he tended to drift out of matches, but now he's much more decisive and excels in set-pieces. He takes all the dead balls and finishes them off well.

"He didn't approach the Juventus game with the right attitude, but he did show some rare skills, like his ability to protect the ball and make the right decisions. My concern is where he'll be positioned—whether Motta will use him deeper or in the final third, as the player himself prefers."

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