Juventus General Director Damien Comolli has publicly called out midfielder Douglas Luiz for disrespecting his teammates with his actions this summer.
Luiz joined Juventus from Aston Villa last summer in a €50 million deal but is now on the verge of leaving after a turbulent debut season in Turin.
Juventus Director on Douglas Luiz
Luiz sparked controversy by missing the opening day of preseason training without informing the club. This led to a disciplinary process and cast doubt on his future under head coach Igor Tudor.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus director Damien Comolli publicly acknowledged internal tensions involving Luiz.
“Douglas Luiz disrespected his teammates and the whole group,” Comolli stated. “He apologized right after.”
While Luiz has since rejoined training, his reintegration appears temporary, as Juventus are keen to offload him.
For a deeper look into the issues behind his likely exit – from insubordination and relationship troubles to poor form – read our full breakdown of why Douglas Luiz is leaving Juventus.
Who Will Sign Douglas Luiz?
Several Premier League sides are pushing to bring Luiz back to England, with Juventus demanding a permanent deal worth around €40 million.
Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Everton have all made approaches, though most proposals have so far come in the form of loans with conditional obligations to buy.
West Ham’s offer reportedly includes a €10 million loan fee and a €30 million clause for next summer, dependent on appearances and Premier League survival.
Juventus, however, is intent on a straight-up sale as they look to reinvest in the midfield.
As the transfer saga continues, interest is also growing among fans following potential moves via US sportsbooks, with Luiz’s next club a key market to watch.
Ex-Juventus Player Criticizes Luiz’ Agent
Luiz’s camp has come under scrutiny for the way the whole situation has unfolded.
Former Juventus forward Davide Lanzafame said the player was “not well advised,” suggesting the preseason absence was a strategy to force a move.
“Sometimes you are not well advised even by the agents, who may force a situation to incentivize a change of team,” Lanzafame told Tutto Mercato.
Juventus sources suspect the player may already have an agreement in place with another club, further complicating the situation.
Who Will Juventus Sign to Replace Douglas Luiz?
With Luiz’s departure increasingly likely, Juventus is preparing to target Morten Hjulmand from Sporting CP.
The Portuguese club is holding firm on a €60 million valuation, which would require significant outgoing funds to complete – another reason Juventus is unwilling to entertain low-fee or conditional deals for Luiz.
Though reintegrated into training, Luiz is currently working on a personalized fitness program as Juventus continues talks with multiple clubs.
The Serie A side is eager to resolve the player’s future before the new season kicks off in August.
