Alex McLeish was delighted to see Douglas Luiz’s response after a potential move from Aston Villa to Arsenal collapsed.
The former Villains boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the midfielder’s future.
Football Insider revealed on Saturday (3 August) that Aston Villa are in advanced talks to agree a new contract with Luiz after a club U-turn.
This came after, as per Sky Sports, three deadline day bids from Arsenal were rejected on deadline day (1 September).
The former Man City midfielder, who cost Villa a reported £15million, has made 111 appearances since joining the midlands club.
McLeish was delighted to see his former club put their foot down and refuse to sell such an important player.
“You might have thought he would throw his toys out of the pram because he didn’t get what could be a gigantic move for him,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Ben Wild.
“In terms of his self-confidence and what he really wants out of his football career. But to overcome that, it’s great to see someone put their foot down and say that he is not leaving.
“He is integral to Villa’s plans and Villa’s success. That, really, was a breath of fresh air for me. Hopefully, he can stay for a few more years.“
Luiz made 35 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa last season, including 31 starts in the Premier League.
The Brazillian will compete for a first-team berth with summer signing Boubacar Kamara.
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By: Alex McLeish
Title: Aston Villa expert issues ‘gigantic’ claim after source’s Luiz update
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-expert-issues-gigantic-claim-after-sources-douglas-luiz-update/
Published Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000
