Douglas Luiz: ‘Unai Emery is very intense in his work, very passionate’
Aston Villa midfielder on club’s ascent to Champions League, Emi Martínez’s antics and his recall for Brazil
Douglas Luiz could have given up many times during his career. The same football that provided him with a way out of a difficult life in Rio de Janeiro also put him in a complicated situation as soon as he left Brazil for Europe at the age of 18. Bought by Manchester City in 2017, he had his work permit rejected and his dream of success in England was stalled.
“I took that blow, that stab, can you understand? I left Vasco where I played every game and was a team’s star. So I went to Man City and Girona [on loan], and didn’t play that year. That was a stab. That’s a moment when you realise how difficult Europe is, how complicated it is to adapt so quickly. You need time to learn the language, to communicate with your teammates. I fell down, but I worked so hard to bounce back [helped by] my parents and my family,” Douglas Luiz tells the Guardian.
