Manchester United are one of the few Premier League clubs that have been linked with Douglas Luiz, but the Red Devils are arguably better off without the Juventus midfielder.
The Brazilian is a Manchester City youth product who left the club in 2019 in search of a prominent place, and he found his haven at Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old cemented himself as one of the finest EPL midfielders during his time at Villa Park, contributing with 10 goals and as many assists in the 2023/24 season, helping the Villans secure a historic Champions League qualification.
Douglas Luiz hellbent on Premier League return
Douglas was then sold to Juventus in the summer of 2025 for circa €50 million, but his first year in Turin proved to be disastrous on all levels. He spent several months on the treatment table due to recurring physical problems, while his performances on the pitch left much to be desired.
Following the sacking of Thiago Motta, his replacement, Igor Tudor, almost completely dropped Luiz from his plans, so the Italian club had no other option but to place him on the transfer list. However, the Brazil international didn’t take the decision smoothly.
Douglas decided not to show up for pre-season, only to end his rebellion by joining the training camp a few days later.
According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Nottingham Forest could be favourites to land the 27-year-old who is desperate to make his return to the Premier League, and has decided to reject the opportunity to join Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce.
Why Man United shouldn’t sign Douglas Luiz
In recent weeks, Man United have been tipped to make an attempt for Luiz, but one could argue that INEOS should avoid this move for three main reasons.
First, Luiz is coming off an injury-riddled campaign, having suffered a host of muscular problems. Hence, it remains unclear if this was a one-off season or a trend that could haunt him for years to come.
Second, the Juventus star may be blessed with impeccable technical skills, but his recent demeanour raised so many questions. Therefore, at a time when Man Utd are trying to get rid of their resident prima-donnas, there’s no need for them to add a player with a questionable disciplinary record.
Finally, with Amorim planning to rely on Bruno Fernandes as a central midfielder behind Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United don’t need another creative midfielder (unless he’s going to serve as a backup for the captain), but an enforcer who can carry the water and maintain balance in the middle of the park.
