Man Utd target Douglas Luiz desperate for Premier League return as relationship with Juventus completely breaks down after transfer flop

The former Aston Villa star made a high-profile switch to Juventus for a fee of €50 million (£42.3m/$53.6m), agreeing to a five-year contract last summer. But his impact has been far from what the club envisioned. Luiz managed just 19 league appearances during the 2024-25 season, with only three of those outings coming as starts. The lack of consistent minutes has been a major point of frustration for the midfielder, who was one of Villa’s standout performers before his departure.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup also proved to be a disappointing experience for Luiz. Juventus played four matches in the tournament, but Luiz was limited to just a single appearance, coming off the bench at half-time during a dominant 5-0 win over Al-Ain in the group stage.

Tensions reached a boiling point this Thursday when Luiz failed to report for Juventus’ return to training. The team had reconvened to begin preparations for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign, following a delayed pre-season due to their Club World Cup schedule. Sources close to the club revealed to The Athletic that disciplinary measures are now being discussed internally and the Brazilian is expected to face sanctions for failing to show up without permission.

This growing friction has not gone unnoticed by clubs across Europe, particularly United, who have long admired Luiz’s composure on the ball and control in midfield. The current circumstances could present an ideal opening for the Red Devils to swoop in with a bid or re-engage in swap deal discussions that have previously been entertained. Reports suggest Juventus might be open to player exchanges involving either Jadon Sancho or Rasmus Hojlund, both of whom have uncertain futures at Old Trafford.

While Juventus are gearing up for a new campaign, Luiz’s future with the club remains increasingly uncertain. The team will kick off their pre-season fixtures with a friendly match against Reggiana on August 2. However, it remains to be seen whether Luiz will play any part in that encounter or any other Juventus fixture going forward.