David Luiz was formally introduced to the press on Thursday as a Paris Saint-Germain player, after the French club overpaid by at least £25 million in signing the Chelsea defender.
The press did not care about the £50 million transfer fee, or how the deal has handicapped PSG from signing other players this summer. Instead all they wanted to ask about was Brazil’s collapse in the World Cup this summer. After scoring a sensational winning free-kick in Brazil’s quarter-final victory over Colombia, Brazil imploded against Germany in the semifinals with Luiz drawing heavy criticism for his performance as he captained Brazil to a humbling 7-1 thrashing.
Luiz has had time to “digest” the fall-out from that night in Belo Horizonte and is now keen to help PSG in their double aim of winning a third straight league title and claiming the European Cup for the very first time. At his official unveiling, he said:
“If the World Cup had finished at the quarter-final stage then you wouldn’t be asking questions about my ability.
“I’ve had time to digest the end of our World Cup and now I’m ready to do everything to help PSG. I feel privileged. I’m part of a fantastic team in which everyone has something to teach me. It’s wonderful to be part of this project. I am very happy to have joined a big club and I’m just eager to start playing.”
Luiz will link up with Brazil team-mate Thiago Silva at the Parc des Princes and, although the former is well-known for bombing forward during matches, he is convinced he will form an effective centre-back partnership with his friend.
He added: “Brazilian defenders play for all the best clubs! Thiago Silva and I are very good friends, we understand what the other is thinking with one look and we respect each other. We trust each other and will give our all out on the pitch. But I am ready to help out in any position, it’s not up to me to choose, I just play football.”
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi confirmed the French champions are aiming for European glory this season saying:
“David Luiz will help us achieve our goal of winning the Champions League. “I am very happy with his arrival. I hired him for his many qualities, both as a man and as a footballer. David has an excellent team spirit and many other great qualities.”
Despite what the PSG president says, spending your whole summer transfer budget on one player is madness, nevermind paying £50 million for someone who is not that good a defender. Whose best position is probably as a defensive midfielder.
