Why PSG Made the Right Move in Signing David Luiz

One season after arriving in the French capital for a whopping transfer fee of around £34.65 million (approximately €49 million) per Transfer Markt, Paris Saint-Germain’s David Luiz is now firmly established as one of the first names in coach Laurent Blanc’s ideal starting XI.

The Brazilian enjoyed a glittering first campaign at Parc des Princes, helping the Ligue 1 champions to the first domestic clean sweep in French football history and a third consecutive UEFA Champions League quarter-final appearance.

As far as debut seasons go, Luiz settled into life at PSG quickly, and aside from a few fitness issues—as was the case with a number of his other team-mates post-World Cup too—the now-28-year-old was largely consistent in his performances.

So, one year on, has PSG's decision to sign David Luiz been vindicated?

The former Benfica and Chelsea man has brought plenty to Blanc’s squad over the past 12 months, but the most valuable quality the South American gives Les Parisiens is his Champions League pedigree.

Luiz won the competition with the Blues back in 2011-12 and was also a part of the Londoners’ Europa League-winning side the following term.

Considering PSG’s ambition is to win Europe’s top continental prize in the near future, the Selecao star’s know-how is absolutely vital. And judging by his displays in his debut term in Paris, Luiz is a player who relishes the big Champions League nights.

Although the PSG No. 32 was disappointing in both legs of the quarter-final against eventual winners Barcelona, it must be remembered the Brazilian was nowhere near full fitness after rushing himself back from a potentially serious hamstring injury.

Luiz picked up the problem in a 3-2 win away at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille back in April and arguably should not have been anywhere near the pitch for either of those two matches against the Catalans. Had a number of other regular starters not been inured or suspended, he probably would not have even made the matchday squad.

That frustrating injury spell aside, the frizzy-haired star was one of PSG’s best performers. He was excellent alongside Marquinhos in central defence in the 3-2 home win over Barca in the group stage and superb over both legs of the last-16 encounter with Chelsea that was won on away goals.

Luiz even chipped in with some crucial strikes of his own in Europe. The samba gem scored in the French champions’ two most prestigious results of the season, netting the opener in the aforementioned group-stage win over Barcelona and heading in the vital equaliser to take his former side Chelsea to extra time at Stamford Bridge.

It is not only in continental action where Luiz’s prowess in front of goal has come to the fore, though—the player also contributed some important goals in Ligue 1 and the domestic cups.

Back in January, Luiz scored the equaliser to pull PSG back onto level terms with Evian Thonon Gaillard at home before Blanc’s men ultimately went on to win 4-2 in Ligue 1.

He also scored one of the two goals as Les Parisiens saw off AS Monaco in the Coupe de France quarter-finals and then opened the team’s account against RC Lens with a free-kick that set the tone for a 4-1 thrashing of Antoine Kombouare’s men in the league.

Luiz’s mentality is impressive, and he is a winner. This is a quality former coach Carlo Ancelotti always felt was lacking when the squad was still in the early stages of being assembled and something he revealed to the official Ligue 1 website in April 2014 he felt his ex-club had finally acquired (h/t Goal).

The South American is a winner in a team of high-quality players with strong winning mentalities.

He is accustomed to being in the strongest teams, such as Benfica, Chelsea and Brazil, but just as important—if not more—is that he is prepared to put himself on the line for his coach and team-mates and give everything in each game he plays.

That is sometimes to his detriment. It was certainly the case against Barcelona when he was ridiculed for his lacklustre performances, yet the fact he was playing injured so as to not leave Blanc undermanned was completely overlooked.

However, for the most part, that commitment and positive attitude has won him admiration and is one of the many qualities that have helped to make him one of the most popular members of this PSG team on and off the pitch.

Blanc and the capital club’s hierarchy clearly see leadership ability in Luiz as well; despite having only arrived in Paris last summer, the Brazilian has already been named captain on a number of occasions.

When the Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Motta have been unavailable, it is Luiz who has stepped in to lead the side. As far as voices go in this squad, his is already one of the loudest and most well respected—particularly by the club’s large Brazilian contingent.

Luiz is also a versatile player, giving Blanc options in both central defence and defensive midfield.

Although deployed primarily as a central defender, the 28-year-old plays better in the midfield, where he is freed from positional and organisational duties. He can drive forward freely with the ball at his feet, with no fear of leaving the back line at a disadvantage.

However, Motta has made the defensive-midfield role his own since arriving at Parc des Princes in 2012 and looks likely to stay this summer. Consequently, that role will not be opening up to Luiz, meaning he will remain at the heart of the defence.

It is shame, because partnering him alongside captain Silva not only blocks Marquinhos’ route to a regular starting XI role, but it also mutes Luiz’s goal threat from long-range shots because he will be further behind the play and only sent forward for set pieces.

Luiz’s first 12 months or so in Paris have been largely positive. However, there have been one or two concerns—and most of them are related to the player’s fitness.

Following a gruelling summer of World Cup duty on home soil, the Brazilian was rushed back into action—along with many of his international team-mates—and subsequently suffered from a number of niggly injuries over the course of the campaign.

This summer’s Copa America did not last as long as last summer’s international commitments, so Luiz should have been able to enjoy a prolonged period of rest. Thanks to this, those occasional fitness issues should be less of a concern this time around.

Once again, the price PSG paid to obtain Luiz is the deciding point of the debate here.

Is the Brazilian worth the estimated £34.65 million (approximately €49 million) price? No, he is not. However, money is of little importance to PSG—even less so now UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) limitations have been weakened, per PA Sport (h/t ESPN FC).

The question asked then should be, has Luiz strengthened the team? Yes, he has. Blanc’s men are better off with the South American alongside Silva than previous incumbent and fellow Brazilian Alex, and they are better equipped to reach their goals domestically and on the continent.

Aside from a handful of disappointing displays, some caused by the player clearly being far from match fit, Luiz has started life in Paris strongly. Chances are he will play a key role in whatever success comes their way this season as well.