Nicolo Zaniolo fires warning to Aston Villa as transfer for 'complete' player nears end

Nicolo Zaniolo has warned Aston Villa that Douglas Luiz is a 'complete midfielder' as the Lions prepare to part with the Brazilian. Luiz is set to join Juventus as part of negotiations which'll also see Old Lady pair Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior head in the opposite direction and join Villa.

Luiz, who has been at Villa since they returned to the Premier League in 2019, won the players' player and the supporters' player of the year for 2022-23, a campaign in which he also agreed a long-term contract to stay in Birmingham. He played 204 times in all for Villa and scored 22 goals having joined from Manchester City.

Zaniolo, who played alongside Luiz at Villa last year while on loan from Turkish side Galatasaray, has seen the Brazilian's qualities up close and is adamant that he is a top player and the signing Juve hopes he'll be for them in Serie A, as they look to close the gap to the Milan sides.

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“When it’s official, I’ll send him a message," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We’ve always had a good relationship in Birmingham. It’s a great signing for Juventus. Douglas Luiz is a top player, a very strong player, of international level. He demonstrated that in the last season in England.

“We’re talking about a complete, total midfielder. For us he played in the midfield duo or as a mezzala, but he has so much quality that in my opinion he could also be used further forward, as an attacking midfielder. Just look at his numbers this season.

“Douglas Luiz scores and creates goals, but he is also someone who runs, recovers balls, enters the area. And above all he sets the game, dictating the timing of moves. He is worth all the money that Juventus invested in him and I’m convinced that he’ll give the Bianconeri a good hand.

“I would only say one thing to Douglas, if you did so well in the Premier League, you’ll repeat yourself in Serie A too. He’s a Brazilian international and is still young, in my opinion he can do even better in Italy. [He's] a Brazilian-European, a nice person and then he’s a leader, both on the pitch and in the locker room.”

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