David Luiz: Is Brazilian Delivering Value on PSG's £50M Transfer Outlay?

As soon as Paris Saint-Germain completed the £50 million transfer of David Luiz from Chelsea in the summer, the knives were out and it was a move that sparked criticism from all corners of the football world.

No matter the team or the player, spending that amount on a transfer target is always going to attract controversy from all sides. When the team in question has been told that their spending is limited, and they go and exhaust the full amount on one player, it’s always going to be a questionable move.

The timing didn’t help either the player or the club. With fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva unable to face Germany in the semi-final of the World Cup, David Luiz was put to the sword and the soon-to-be World Champions put seven past the Chelsea defender.

Fair or not, for as long as Luiz is a PSG player, he will be constantly reminded of his transfer fee, and it will be used to judge his ability and performances. So, is the Brazilian delivering value on PSG’s £50 million transfer outlay?

In their search for a third consecutive Ligue 1 title, PSG’s defence wasn’t a position that desperately needed strengthening. In finishing nine points ahead of Monaco last season, Laurent Blanc’s side conceded 23 goals over 38 games.

Instantly, looking at the results this term, it doesn’t look positive. They have already conceded the same amount of goals but have played fewer games. Not exactly the return you expect when you spend £50 million on a centre-back.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

However, in context, David Luiz’s numbers don’t fare that badly. In his 19 Ligue 1 appearances, the Brazilian has been part of 10 out of PSG’s 11 clean sheets. In contrast, his two countrymen, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos have only featured in six and eight respectively.

In the Champions League, the Parisian club has only managed to keep a clean sheet twice in seven games; Luiz featured in all seven and made a crucial goal-line clearance against APOEL Nicosia to inspire PSG to a 1-0 victory.

PSG fans haven’t let the expensive fee stop them from falling for the charm of David Luiz. His swash-buckling style and the way he wears his heart on his sleeve have endeared him to the home support.

When PSG beat Barcelona 3-2 at the Parc des Princes, the performance from Luiz was both crucial and inspirational. The Brazilian popped up with a goal and seemed to be everywhere when Barcelona pilled on the pressure. He won nearly everything in the air, read the game well and cut out the danger before it escalated and you could see during that 90-minute spell, why PSG went big on the defender.

Regardless of price tag, David Luiz has adapted well to life in Ligue 1. PSG’s defensive failings can’t be pinned on the former Chelsea defender. The drop in form of Thiago Motta, plus Blaise Matuidi’s World Cup hangover and the injury and questionable performances from Thiago Silva have been more to blame than PSG spending £50 million on Luiz.

Perhaps it is just the way he plays, that swash-buckling style set against the Sideshow Bob hairstyle, but you still always feel, that put under a sustained amount of pressure, Luiz has a mistake or two in him.

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Great marking for the goal from FIFA Team of the Year's David Luiz!

— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) February 17, 2015"

It showed for Chelsea against PSG last season when he knocked the ball into his own net. While playing in Ligue 1, he is not going to be put under the type of pressure to make him crack. That is only going to come in the Champions League, which is partly why Blanc moved him to defensive midfield for the first leg in Paris.

We have to give Luiz credit; he did play extremely well against his former side. However, having Marquinhos next to Thiago Silva did make PSG look far more solid, the real test will be in the second leg.

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David Luiz had 99 touches of the ball last night. The most of any #PSG player. The holding role is where his future lies.

— 1970 PSG (@1970_PSG) February 18, 2015"

At Stamford Bridge, PSG are set to face more pressure, play deeper and will have to perform just as well, if not better than they did in Paris if they want to progress. They will need Luiz to put in a faultless display and hope he doesn’t make that expected mistake.

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Fwiw David Luiz has been excellent tonight. Probably the best player on the field so far.

— Rupert Fryer (@Rupert_Fryer) February 17, 2015"

It is difficult to look towards statistics in order to critique the PSG defenders. They usually control possession in every league game, and not many sides will make a sustained effort to attack with consistency. When comparing with the rest of the league, it’s hard to judge, as the other 19 teams will face more opportunities to defend.

According to WhoScored, Luiz only features in the top 20 of one defensive category. He is level with Thiago Silva in making 0.6 blocks per game, with the Brazilians 14th and 15th in Ligue 1. Silva also features in the top 15 in clearances, but no PSG defender features anywhere else on their rankings.

You are only ever worth what someone is willing to pay for you. But when it comes down to a question of value, it will always be very difficult to justify PSG’s decision to spend £50 million on a centre-back with questionable ability to strengthen an already good back line.

PSG’s struggles in the league and subsequent poorer defensive record cannot be blamed on David Luiz. However, if they hadn’t spent their entire budget on the Brazilian centre-back, they could have pursued another target, or maybe another two.

It is interesting that Angel Di Maria, the player PSG apparently missed out on, via The Guardian, because they signed Luiz, is enjoying his own struggles at Manchester United after moving for £56 million.

No club in France has drawn as many games as PSG this season. That is a shocking stat for a club that have spent the amount of money that they have over the past few years. That comes down to their inability to find the killer blow and destroy teams when they go 1-0 up.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

David Luiz will never be worth £50 million and it will be impossible for the Brazilian to put in the performances that would justify his price tag. However, that is not his fault, and the defender can only try and do his best.

In four years’ time, if PSG have won multiple Ligue 1 titles and progressed to the latter stages of the Champions League, maybe then people will stop criticising the move, but in the short-term it’s hard to agree that he is delivering value for money. But that is not due to Luiz’s performances it comes down to PSG’s decision to spend over the odds for a good centre-back.