Relationships at work are a risky business – and professional football is no different.
Because while Alisha Lehmann has been settling in since swapping Aston Villa for Juventus, her boyfriend Douglas Luiz is having a rather different experience.
And after becoming the first ‘couple transfer’ in football history, the two superstars could be forced to consider a long-distance arrangement in January.
Aston Villa face Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night, five months after Lehmann and Luiz moved from Birmingham to Turin together.
Midfielder Luiz spent five years at Villa Park, emerging as one of the club’s most important players during their renaissance under Unai Emery.
However, at the end of an impressive 2023/24 campaign, Villa were forced to accept a £41.6million bid from Juventus in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Off the field, the Brazilian entered a high-profile relationship with one of the most famous players in women’s football: Swiss forward Lehmann.
The couple went public in 2021, shortly after Lehmann joined Villa from WSL rivals West Ham.
Besides an impressive eye for goal, the 25-year-old is also a global phenomenon on social media, boasting a staggering 17million followers on Instagram.
That is significantly more than Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer (13m) – and more than four times the followers of Aston Villa itself (4m).
Speaking to talkSPORT in 2023, Lehmann admitted it is frustrating when fans consider her an influencer more than a footballer.
She said: “Some people just see Instagram and social media and don’t even know I actually play football.
“When I don’t post a football picture for a week, people say, ‘Oh, she doesn’t even play’.
“I think sometimes it’s a bit hard because obviously I play like I train every day, like everyone else, like I play every weekend and sometimes it’s hard because they make a picture of you.
“I’m a proper footballer. I work hard every day. I want to be the best version of myself in football and that’s my first priority in life.”
That work paid off when she was named Supporters’ Player of the Season at Villa for the 2023/24 campaign, helping them achieve their highest-ever WSL finish and reach two domestic cup semi-finals.
Days after partner Luiz put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Juventus, Lehmann landed a three-year contract with the Italian giants’ women’s team.
Speaking about moving with her boyfriend, Lehmann said: “For Douglas and me to be together in the same club is a dream.
“We have often played in different cities, so being able to have these great adventures in the same place is something wonderful.”
On the pitch, Lehmann has featuring in all 11 top-flight games, scoring twice and registering one assist – with the Old Lady sitting pretty at the top of the league.
But for Luiz, the move has been nothing short of disastrous.
The 26-year-old will miss the reunion with his former club on Wednesday night, having been sidelined since October with muscle fatigue.
But even when available, Luiz has been nowhere near the top of Thiago Motta’s midfield pecking order.
Before his injury problems, the ex-Villa star was only named in the starting XI twice, desperately struggling to find a rhythm at his new club.
In October, Luiz conceded two penalties in four days, both after coming off the bench as a substitute in the final 30 minutes, damaging his reputation among fans with high expectations for their marquee summer signing.
Now, with a plethora of midfielders and a shortage of fit centre-backs, The Times reports that Juventus will listen to offers for Luiz in January to help raise funds.
And Aston Villa sporting director Monchi admits he would take the Brazilian back in a heartbeat.
“Douglas Luiz is playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player,” former Roma director Monchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.
“There are players who arrive and impose themselves, and others who need time. Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are unquestionable.
“Would I take him back? After his departure, we made investments and our midfield is well-stocked with Tielemans, Onana, Kamara, Barkley… But I would always take Douglas back, at any club: he’s top class.”
Both Aston Villa and Juventus could face a difficult decision in January.
But more difficult, perhaps, is that unlike most footballers, Luiz would be forced to leave his long-term partner behind to seal an exit.