Nicolo Zaniolo has told Gazzetta dello Sport that he will “always be grateful” to Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz for assisting his first goal in the Premier League.
The Brazil international is set to join Juventus in a deal that will see Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea move in the opposite direction.
Ahead of Luiz’s impending move to the Turin club, the newspaper had a chat with the 24-year-old winger to find out more about his former teammate.
The former AS Roma man explained the 26-year-old South American showcased his qualities at Aston Villa last season, where he managed 10 goals and 10 assists from 53 games.
“When it’s official, I’ll send him a message: we’ve always had a good relationship in Birmingham. For Juventus it is a great coup. Douglas Luiz is a top player: a very strong player of international level. He demonstrated this in his last season in England,” he said.
Responding to that, Zaniolo explained: “We are talking about a complete, total midfielder. For us he played in the midfield pair or as a midfielder, but he has so much quality that in my opinion he could also be used further forward, as an attacking midfielder. Just look at his seasonal numbers.”
“Luiz scores and lets people score, but he is also someone who runs, recovers balls, and inserts himself in the area. And above all he sets the game, dictating the timing of the manoeuvre. He is worth all the money Juventus invested in him and I am convinced he will give the Bianconeri a big hand.”
Zaniolo went on to say Luiz is also good off the pitch, and was a leader in the dressing room.
On Monday, Tuttosport reported Luiz is expected to undergo medical tests after Brazil’s Copa América clash against Costa Rica, which ended in a goalless draw earlier today.
