Douglas Luiz has cemented his place in the Juventus midfield this season, according to Sport Witness, who report that the 28-year-old has started all three of the Italian side's Serie A matches so far. The Brazilian appears to have won over manager Luciano Spalletti following a difficult period that included two separate loan spells away from Turin.
His most recent outing came in a 1-1 draw against AC Milan, where he played 79 minutes. Local media coverage cited by Sport Witness described him as one of the standout performers in that fixture, specifically highlighting his intensity and aggression in the centre of the park.
This represents a significant turnaround for the midfielder, who initially moved from Aston Villa to Juventus in June 2024. That transfer, which also involved Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea heading in the opposite direction, was viewed with suspicion in Italy amid broader scrutiny of club accounting practices.
Luiz struggled to gain traction during his first spell in Serie A and was quickly earmarked for a move back to England. A loan to Nottingham Forest followed, before he returned to Villa Park on a temporary basis earlier this year.
His second stint at Villa began promisingly with regular minutes, but his involvement gradually diminished as the campaign progressed. Ultimately, the opportunity to make his return to the Midlands permanent did not materialise, and he headed back to Italy in the summer.
Sport Witness notes that there were concerns in Turin as recently as May that the player had become difficult to move on. However, a strong showing in training and throughout pre-season convinced Spalletti to integrate him into his plans for the new campaign.
Meanwhile, the other components of the original 2024 agreement have taken different paths. Iling-Junior is currently spending time on loan at Bolton Wanderers, while Barrenechea has been rotating in and out of the squad at Benfica.
For Aston Villa supporters, Luiz's revival offers a final chapter to a complicated transfer saga. With the summer window now closed until January 2027, attention at Villa Park remains firmly on the current squad rather than the movements of former players.
