The Brazilian midfielder is expected to report for preseason as Spalletti considers deploying him in a deep-lying playmaker role to unlock the talent that once made him one of the Premier League’s top midfielders
Douglas Luiz could be one of the biggest surprises of Juventus’ preseason.
After an underwhelming first year in Turin and an unsuccessful loan spell back in England, the Brazilian midfielder is set to receive a fresh opportunity under new head coach Luciano Spalletti, who reportedly believes he can restore the form that once made Luiz one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.
Juventus will begin preseason with an incomplete squad as the club continues to reshape its roster following a disappointing campaign.
With transfer activity still ongoing, Spalletti plans to carefully evaluate several returning players, and Douglas Luiz is among the names he is most eager to assess.
Unlike last summer, when tensions delayed his arrival for preseason after a frustrating first season in Turin, Luiz is expected to report on time to Continassa.
The 27-year-old has spent the offseason recovering physically while training during his vacation, hoping to put an injury-plagued period behind him.
His recent loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa did little to reignite his career.
Across both clubs, Luiz started only 20 matches in 34 appearances, recording one goal and two assists—numbers well below the level that convinced Juventus to invest approximately €50 million to sign him after his outstanding 2023-24 campaign with Aston Villa.
That transfer package included €28 million plus the permanent transfers of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Injuries have also played a major role in his struggles.
Since arriving in Turin, Douglas Luiz has suffered seven separate muscle injuries across the last two seasons, preventing him from establishing any consistent rhythm.
Despite those setbacks, Spalletti reportedly remains convinced that the Brazilian’s technical quality, vision and passing ability have not disappeared.
The coach is considering an intriguing tactical experiment by deploying Luiz as a deep-lying playmaker at the base of midfield.
It is a role that has become one of Spalletti’s trademarks throughout his coaching career.
The Italian manager previously transformed players such as David Pizarro at Udinese and Roma, Marcelo Brozović at Inter Milan and Stanislav Lobotka at Napoli into elite registas capable of controlling possession and dictating the tempo of matches.
Juventus hope Douglas Luiz could become the latest midfielder to flourish under that system.
Preseason training and the club’s August tour of Hong Kong and Australia will offer Spalletti the first opportunity to test the experiment.
For a player once viewed as one of Europe’s premier midfielders, the coming weeks may represent the chance to rewrite a difficult chapter in Turin and finally justify Juventus’ significant investment.
