David Luiz has a very high chance of staying at Arsenal beyond this summer, according to his agent Kia Joorabchian(via Sky Sports).
The 33-year-old who joined the Gunners last summer has gone on to become one of the team’s most important players. He has been a regular starter for both current manager Mikel Arteta and former boss Unai Emery.
The Brazilian signed a one-year contract with an option for a 12-month extension which the North London club didn’t pick up. With the defender’s contract set to expire in June of this year, there was a suggestion that he could leave.
However, David Luiz’s agent revealed that talks have been delayed due to the pandemic situation but there is a good chance that his client might stay at the North London club beyond the summer. As per Sky Sports, he said:
“He’s very happy at Arsenal,” Joorabchian said. “He has an extremely good relationship with both the coach and the sporting director. He has good relationships all throughout the club, right up to the owner. He respects everybody.
“Arsenal had an option, which expired. We also had a pandemic [coronavirus]. So the option expired in the middle of the pandemic. We are all very aware of that situation and we are all trying, very slowly, to get back to this ‘new normal’.
“David will sit down with Arsenal before the season begins, have his conversations and they will both decide if he will stay or not. That will come before the season starts. The chances are very high [of Luiz being at Arsenal next season].”
The defender has recently confirmed that he has held talks with his former club Benfica regarding a move back to Portugal. However, Joorabchian clarified that’s not an immediate plan. He added:
“What he said was, ‘if the opportunity arose in the future – before I retire – I could go back to Benfica and finish my career where I started it’. But he never mentioned about wanting to go back to Benfica now.”
Luiz has proven to be a valuable asset for the defense. He has been really good at bringing some calmness to the team with his excellent passing and experience having played many years at the highest level.
One factor that could be at play in influencing this deal is the age of the center back who is on the wrong side of 30. Once the season resumes, we will know more about what happens to the possible contract extension of Luiz. It is clear that Arteta trusts him so there is a good chance that he gets another season to show his worth.
