As ESPN Brasil features an interview with Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, the player talked a lot about the route which took him to the club and his present situation there.
The 24-year-old started by recalling his arrival at the Villa Park. He was first bought by Manchester City on a €12m deal from Vasco da Gama in 2017, but Pep Guardiola’s side never made use of him because of the lack of a work permit, having kept him loaned at Girona for the following two seasons.
When returning to England in 2019, the player was then sold to Aston Villa in a €16.8m deal. Now he explains what happened at the time, showing he opted for that move.
“Together with my manager at the time, we talked about all the options that could occur. I was sold to City and then I was loaned to Girona,” Douglas Luiz told ESPN Brasil.
“The talk was that I’d play for Girona for a year and then you go back to England. But something went wrong, because I didn’t play much in the first year and then I wouldn’t get a work visa in England. In other words, it wouldn’t help me at all.
Even though Manchester City would initially had the chance of buying him back from Aston Villa, Douglas Luiz explains that the option no longer exists, as he’s now committed to the Villans on a deal until 2026.
“I signed for four years with Villa and, in the first two years, I had the option of being bought back by City. That time passed and they didn’t buy. When I signed again with Villa, they didn’t even have a conversation with me, they spoke directly to City.”
Douglas Luiz also talked a little about the managers he had at Aston Villa, explaining that things didn’t work out under Steven Gerrard, and hoping that Unai Emery can make them fight for bigger things.
“Gerrard was a great coach at Aston Villa, but unfortunately the results weren’t showing. We know how dynamic football is. We have to look forward. If the result doesn’t appear, we have to make a move or change something.
“Our assistant took over and we managed to have a great game against Brentford. He made changes to the formation and the way of playing. I think that’s what Gerrard lacked a bit: to take a little risk.
“Now, we’ll have Unai Emery, who is a great coach. He has already commanded great players and teams, and it will be a very big new step for all of us.”
