Juventus confirmed their faith in Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz, but asked the player to respond to critics after the serious mistake against Rennes. The episode, which gave a penalty kick to the rival, has reignited controversy over a player who, according to the management and the coach, should be more reliable. According to what reported by Tuttosport, Luiz assumed his responsibilities, apologizing to his teammates and Spalletti in the locker room, a gesture that the coach welcomed, but also underlined that trust is not unlimited.
Luiz's problem is not limited to the single foul against Rennes. The midfielder has already made other costly mistakes: in the Champions League against Leipzig he touched the ball with his hand, and a few days later, against Cagliari, he made a mistake on Piccoli, both results in which Juventus lost penalties. In 37 appearances with the black and white shirt, Luiz has yet to score either goals or assists, a figure that is difficult to justify considering the investment of 51.5 million euros made in the summer of 2024. Before the move to Turin, his performance at Aston Villa was more balanced, with 10 goals and 10 assists in a season, demonstrating technical ability and ability to contribute to the attack.
Despite the criticism, Spalletti seems not to want to change director. The alternatives are limited and Juventus will probably not be able to intervene in the market to acquire a top-level midfielder in the short term. Consequently, the manager continues to focus on Luiz's recovery, convinced that the Brazilian can still return to the level shown in the Premier League. Luiz's apology after Rennes demonstrated his willingness to take responsibility, but now his performances on the pitch need to demonstrate concrete improvement.
For Juventus, Luiz's future is therefore a question of immediate performances. If he manages to transform the midfield into a point of reference, he will be able to maintain his starting position. Otherwise, the coach will have to consider other options, even if the transfer possibilities are reduced. Next week will be crucial to evaluate whether Luiz manages to meet expectations and consolidate the trust of Spalletti and the management.