Manchester City have reportedly inserted a buy-back clause into Douglas Luiz deal

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Mega-rich Manchester City have inserted a buy-back clause into the deal that took Douglas Luiz to Aston Villa this week, according to the Manchester Evening News.

They report that Pep Guardiola remains a fan of the Brazlian midfielder and was frustrated that City haven’t been able to get a work permit over the line for him.

The Spaniard apparently wanted him to be his backup for Fernandinho but Villa look likely to succeed with the work permit appeals process.

And if Luiz proves his worth in the Premier League, the report says the clause is £25 million if City want him back next summer, rising to £30 million the year after that.

It’s tough not to conclude that Luiz would still be a City player if they could have got a work permit – and perhaps they wouldn’t have even signed Rodri if that were the case.

That’s a good sign of how good Luiz is, but it may mean that City do swoop back in next summer if the Brazilian impresses at Villa Park.

Villa stand to make a profit at the very least if that is the case, but in the meantime, Luiz needs to get settled at Villa Park and start the business of impressing the fans.