Benfica chief ends rumours by spilling details of crucial David Luiz chat

Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira has confirmed that David Luiz is in discussions with his agent about renewing his contract at Arsenal.

Speculation over Luiz’s future has heightened in recent days after it emerged that the Brazilian’s deal, signed last summer, only lasted a year.

Kia Joorabchian, the player’s representative, admitted that Luiz’s situation was far from ideal, given the global pandemic, but insisted that it was very likely that his client would be staying with the Gunners.

Earlier, Luiz had revealed that it was his dream to one day return to Benfica but, revealing the details of his latest discussion with the player, Vieira confirmed that the 33-year-old is keen on staying at Arsenal.

“I spoke to him again yesterday. We have a father-to-son relationship,” Vieira told Record.

“He was in the car with his agent, preparing to renew his contract with Arsenal.

“He is someone who loves Benfica, but there is something else he is: he is a great professional and has to earn money.

“What he earns is unthinkable for Benfica to pay. If David Luiz comes to a day when he says ‘I want to leave here’, if he is 35 years old, in perfect condition, we will take David Luiz of course.

“If he came, it would have to be for a million, but as a father, I would say ‘No, David, you’re not coming, don’t be crazy. You have to make money!’

“When the football is over, nobody goes after him. If he came today, he would have to come under these conditions, otherwise, he could not come.”

Joorabchian also expressed his firm disagreement with a story that claimed he demanded £6million in agent’s fees to get Luiz’s move from Chelsea over the line.

The representative said that the claim was “so, so wrong”, adding that he in fact demanded much less.

In other news, Arsenal are said not to have offered Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a new contract, contrary to previous reports.

Read more…