MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola has revealed that the club can buy back Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz.
The Villans signed Brazil midfielder Luiz for 15million in the summer.
But Guardiola is a huge fan of the player and insisted on a buyback clause when he moved to Villa Park.
Luiz has been a star as Dean Smith’s men have impressed since returning to the Premier League in the summer.
The 21-year-old was originally signed as a replacement for the ageing Fernandinho.
But work permit issues meant he was loaned out to Spanish club Girona for two seasons.
Guardiola told the Manchester Evening News: “We have an option to get him back but sometimes life is like this.
“We wanted him because last season we had problems in that position because we didnt buy a holding midfielder.
“We wanted him before so we thought about it but the rules with the work permit meant it was not possible.
“He would be here if a work permit were possible if the Premier League said it would be possible but now he is at Aston Villa.
“I thought he would be here with the pre-season he played last year in the States, he was really good.
“I think he had the quality to play with us but he could not do it.
“The talent is always there, well see at the end of the season what his level is but the quality is always there.”
The Rio de Janeiro-born youngster was snapped up as an 18-year-old by City.
Guardiola’s need for a holding midfielder saw him sign Rodri for a club-record 62.5m this summer.
However, the Spaniard is now injured.
Luiz took on his old team-mates when the two teams clashed at the Etihad today.
