Published 23:20 IST, October 29th 2019
Football transfer news: Man City keen to buy back this Brazilian star!
Man City boss Guardiola might be willing to re-purchase former player Douglas Luiz, who was sold to Aston Villa in July 2019 due to not receiving a work permit.
- SportFit
- 2 min read
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has not closed the door for his club on Douglas Luiz, despite trading him off in a £15 million deal to Aston Villa last summer. Luiz, 21, joined Villa from Manchester City in July 2019 and has featured in eight games this season, scoring twice.
Douglas Luiz could have been lining up for Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday, October 26, 2019, if things had turned out differently. The Blues bought the Brazilian as one of their possible midfield options to eventually succeed Fernandinho, loaning him out to sister club Girona to get some experience in the LaLiga.
Guardiola hoped to include Luiz in his squad last season after he caught his eye on their pre-season tour in 2018 but the player was denied a work permit in England, much to the dismay of the manager. A second season on loan at Girona did nothing to change that situation, which forced City to accept £15m when Aston Villa came calling for him last summer. Luiz has impressed for the Premier League side with two goals but has not started in any of their last three games.
Guardiola could exercise buy-back option
The buy-back clause may be triggered at some stage, with Luiz having impressed for Villa and left City boss Guardiola mulling over what might have been if he had stayed at the Etihad.
Luiz gets national team call
Luiz has also been called up for the Brazilian national team. Neymar injured a hamstring in Brazil's 1-1 draw with Nigeria on October 13, 2019 and is expected to be out for four weeks. Brazil face Argentina in Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2019 and head to Abu Dhabi to play South Korea four days later. Brazil coach Tite has called on Real Madrid's uncapped 18-year-old forward Rodrygo, who scored after 93 seconds on his debut as a substitute for Real against Osasuna.
Updated 00:19 IST, October 30th 2019