In a world where expensive player transfers are carefully examined and sometimes cancelled due to technical issues, it is surprising that Manchester City spent approximately £10 million on a player who was ineligible to play for them. There were high expectations for Vasco de Gama’s young player Douglas Luiz in 2017, as Pep Guardiola was eager to include him in the team. Luiz participated in City’s pre-season tour of the USA in 2018, catching the manager’s eye with his performance in defensive midfield. However, an underlying issue was preventing him from being included in City’s future plans. It was anticipated that he would receive a UK work visa, but regulations at the Home Office during that period prohibited non-EU athletes who were not recognized international players from obtaining authorization to relocate to the UK, particularly if they were not expected to play regularly in the Premier League. Additionally, the lack of transfer activity may indicate a significant risk taken by Man City despite pleas from Pep Guardiola. Guardiola and Brazil manager Tite both wrote letters to the Home Office in support of Luiz, confirming his importance to their respective teams. However, since he didn’t have a Brazil cap, Luiz was in a state of uncertainty, unable to play for the club that had recently invested millions to bring him to England. City took out a loan to Girona, their sister club, in hopes of resolving the issue in the future. Premier League and FA regulations require clubs to prove a player’s eligibility to work in the UK before they can be registered, using a points-based system in collaboration with the FA and Home Office to determine eligibility. Luiz did not meet the requirements, causing City’s plans to be disrupted. He had difficulties playing for Girona in his first season, but showed promise upon returning to City in the summer.
