Douglas Luiz dismisses Villa return talk amid Juventus focus

The Brazilian midfielder, who left Villa Park for Juventus in a £42 million deal last summer, clarified that while he holds fond memories of his time in the Premier League, his full focus remains on the challenges ahead in Turin.

Rumours of a potential homecoming emerged after Luiz spoke positively about his development at Villa, describing it as a "happy place" in his career. However, in a recent social media post, the 27-year-old stressed that he had never suggested he wanted to rejoin the Midlands club.

"I spoke about Aston Villa as a happy place for me, I loved to be there and develop at that club, but I never mentioned a return. Please don't misunderstand me. I love Juventus and I'm fully focused on our targets."

His departure from Aston Villa came as the club sought to balance the books in line with Premier League financial regulations. He had just enjoyed a standout campaign, contributing ten goals and ten assists, and played a key role in the club's push for European qualification — a feat they have since achieved, further fuelling nostalgic comparisons.

While Aston Villa continue to thrive under Unai Emery, Juventus find themselves in a more turbulent period, both on and off the pitch. Even so, Luiz appears determined to prove his worth in Serie A and distance himself from any suggestion of regret.