Juventus to test Douglas Luiz as deep‑lying playmaker under Spalletti

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti plans to trial Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz in a new deep‑lying playmaker role during the team’s preseason retreat at the Continassa training centre. The club, operating on a reduced budget after missing Champions League qualification, has an incomplete squad and is assessing players returning from loans. Luiz, who arrived in Turin for €50 million but struggled with injuries and limited impact at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, will be evaluated in the first weeks before the summer tour to Hong Kong and Australia. Spalletti believes Luiz’s technical ability and vision have not disappeared, citing his “geometries” and ball‑control as assets. Luiz’s recent Instagram post, captioned “Firme, forte e determinado,” signals his determination to earn a place. The experiment could revive his value for Juventus and shape the midfield strategy for the upcoming season.