“I accept the rules but I don’t understand them”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken of his disappointment at the FA’s decision to deny Brazilian youngster Douglas Luiz a work permit.
City signed the 20-year-old from Vasco de Gama last year in a deal worth around £10m. Having spent last season on loan at Girona, City’s sister club, Guardiola had wanted the midfielder to form part of his squad for the coming season.
City asked the Home Office for a permit on the basis of Douglas’ “outstanding talent”. They even submitted videos of support for their appeal from Brazil national team manager Tite and former Arsenal midfielder Edu.
Despite this, the FA decided not to give their approval to the Home Office, much to the frustration of Guardiola.
“He’s not allowed – I’m sad and disappointed about it,” he explained. “We are going to try him to go on loan again and try to get the work permit in the future.
“It’s difficult to understand. They have to judge if he has the ability. Me and Tite know more about his ability. He could have played, he’s shown many good things.
“I accept the rules but I don’t understand them. Anyone in the world should be able to work where he wants.”
The decision was particularly difficult to take for Guardiola as it came on transfer deadline day, allowing him no time to bring any other players into the club.
“We spent £10.7million because he’s a player with a huge capacity to play with us. We believe he can play that’s why we wanted a work permit.
“They didn’t know him, they haven’t seen him in not one game or training session. I don’t understand but we’re in England and you have to accept it.
“I’d have preferred the decision 10 or 15 days ago as we could have decided what we can do. But it was one day before. Is that he is not tall enough or the price or something like that?”
The decision marks a disappointing end to the transfer window for City, who also missed out to Chelsea on the signing of Jorginho. The Premier League champions were thought to have prioritised a move for the Brazilian-born Italian international, only for him to opt to follow former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri to Stamford Bridge.
