Douglas Luiz’s night to remember or just a last hurrah at Juventus

A warm summer night at the Allianz Stadium, a goal, an assist, and applause from the stands — could this be the turning point for Douglas Luiz’s future at Juventus?

The annual in-house friendly between the Juventus first team and the Next Gen side is more than just a pre-season tradition; it’s a chance for players to feel the warmth of their fans and start the season on a positive note.

It’s also an opportunity for new arrivals to showcase their talent and for others to win back trust. On this particular evening, it was Douglas Luiz who stole the spotlight.

Douglas Luiz of Juventus in action during the pre-season friendly match between Juventus FC and Juventus Next Gen on August 13, 2025 in Turin, Italy.

Signed last summer from Aston Villa for around €50 million after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders, Douglas was expected to be a game-changing addition.

Instead, his first season in Turin was plagued by injuries and underwhelming performances, with many labelling him a disappointing signing.

But last night felt different. Early in the match, Douglas saw a shot saved by the Next Gen goalkeeper, only to immediately position himself perfectly for a Filip Kostić cross, heading home his first-ever goal in a Juventus shirt.

Douglas Luiz of Juventus scores to make it 1-0 during the pre-season friendly match between Juventus FC and Juventus Next Gen on August 13, 2025 in…

The celebration was muted, but a slight smile betrayed his satisfaction.

Minutes later, he delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Dusan Vlahović, putting the striker clean through on goal.

From the stands, a few fans could be heard murmuring: “Finally.”

While the match was played at a slower pace due to the summer heat, Douglas displayed glimpses of the dominant midfielder who once shone in England.

His movement, passing, and timing resembled the player Juventus thought they had signed — raising hopes that perhaps, this time, he might be on the right track.

Douglas Luiz of Juventus celebrates after scoring a goal during the Pre-Season Friendly Match between Juventus FC and Juventus Next Gen on August 13,…

However, his situation remains complicated. His 2025/26 campaign began poorly when he failed to show up for the first day of pre-season without providing an explanation, frustrating both fans and management.

And despite his promising display in this friendly, the feeling around Continassa is that he does not feature in Igor Tudor’s long-term plans and remains on the transfer list.

Selling him won’t be easy given his recent struggles and high wages, but keeping him also seems unlikely.

For now, Douglas Luiz has offered a glimpse of what could be — but whether it’s enough to change his fate in Turin is still doubtful.