You wouldn’t have been blamed if you did not know too much about Douglas Luiz before the summer transfer window just gone.
A former Manchester City player officially, but not one that has ever been in the first-team picture at the Etihad, despite being highly rated. The Brazilian midfielder, who stood out with his beach blonde hair against Bournemouth, was widely regarded as a player who could potentially grow into that ‘Fernandinho role’ under Pep Guardiola.
However, work permit issues continued to trouble City’s bid to get him in the first-team squad. Therefore, he was sent out on loan and would spend time in La Liga on loan at Girona, learning his trade in the Spanish top flight.
He joined Villa for big money over the summer and it was a real sign of intent from Dean Smith’s side that they brought in such a well-regarded young Brazilian. It would have been easy to replace the likes of Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan with someone as equally experienced, but they’ve opted to take a different route.
Luiz was making his first Premier League start and it was a sign of things to come for the midfielder, who will certainly be aware that good performances this season could result in bigger and better things next summer, regardless of what Smith’s side do in the league this season.
Manchester City will be watching his development at Villa Park closely, with talk of a buy-back clause inserted into the deal. Pep Guardiola has spoken highly of the player in the past and clearly remains a big admirer.
After a busy summer of spending, Smith needs his signings to not only gel quickly, but to also step up and provide that added element of Premier League quality that they’ll need to stay up in the division. Download the best betting apps for sports betting offers if you think Villa have what it takes to avoid relegation at the first time of asking.
Luiz started on the bench for the first game of the season against Spurs, but was given his home debut as Eddie Howe’s side came to Villa Park on Saturday. It was a tricky start for the midfielder, as he found himself in the headlines early on as he was at fault for one of Bournemouth’s goals, but he certainly redeemed himself in fine fashion during the second half.
After finding a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, Luiz whipped a curling effort into the top corner, leaving Aaron Ramsdale with no chance. It was a moment of pure quality that the home fans have been waiting for as they enjoyed the return of Premier League football at Villa Park over the weekend.
While the end result was not what Aston Villa were after on the day, there was a clear sign of the player’s induvidual quality. If Luiz can harness that and use it as a springboard to nail down a spot in Smith’s starting XI, then he could become a key part of their midfield very quickly, alongside the likes of John McGinn and Jack Grealish. With Luiz able to offer the aforementioned duo the licence to roam forward and attack the final third, he could be an addition that brings out the best in Villa’s midfield in more way than one.
Villa will need Luiz to hit the ground running off the back of the stunning finish against Bournemouth. With games against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham to come, the newly-promoted side have an opportunity to build on two promising performances.
