BREAKING: Manchester United’s £30m Swap Deal for Douglas Luiz COLLAPSES After Juventus Pull Out – Antony Left in Limbo
Man Utd were offered the chance to swap Antony for £30m-rated Douglas Luiz in a deal that could’ve fixed both their midfield weakness and unwanted stars — but talks have now broken down.
Manchester United have seen a major transfer opportunity fall through, missing out on the chance to land Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz in a swap deal that would have sent Antony to Italy.
The Red Devils are hoping to strengthen their midfield this summer and had identified Luiz as an ideal option to bring more energy and strength to their squad. Manager Ruben Amorim is keen to add a more mobile defensive midfielder who can complement Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of the park.
United’s interest in Luiz is long-standing, having tracked him even before he left Aston Villa for Juventus in a £40 million deal last summer. At Villa, Luiz earned high praise and was described as a “world class” talent by his former teammate John McGinn. However, since moving to Italy, he has slipped down the pecking order and was seen as available for transfer by Juve’s former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.
According to reports, Juventus were ready to explore a swap deal involving Luiz and United’s winger Antony, who spent last season on loan at Real Betis. The Brazilian winger impressed in Spain, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 26 appearances, helping Betis reach the final of the UEFA Conference League.
The potential deal looked promising for both sides. United would have addressed their midfield concerns while offloading a player who is no longer part of their long-term plans. Juventus, on the other hand, were interested in strengthening their attacking options and saw Antony as a strong fit.
However, that plan has now collapsed. With Giuntoli departing Juventus and Damien Comolli taking over sporting director duties, the Italian club is no longer pushing for the swap, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that the deal is now “very unlikely.”
The failure to secure Luiz is a blow to United’s summer plans. The 26-year-old would have brought Premier League experience and a strong midfield presence to a team that struggled with physical battles throughout last season, particularly in the Premier League and during their Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
United must now return to the drawing board as they look for other solutions. One option still on the table is Real Betis, where Antony enjoyed his best form in years. Betis are said to be open to another loan move, but United are pushing for a permanent transfer. If a deal with Betis does materialise, some sources suggest that United could consider a swap involving American midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who could also help fill their midfield gap.
With the new season fast approaching, United are under pressure to resolve Antony’s future and secure a midfielder who can add stability and energy in the middle of the pitch. But for now, a deal that might have killed two birds with one stone is off the table.
