Relationships in the workplace are risky business – and professional football is no different.
Because while Alisha Lehmann has settled in well since moving from Aston Villa to Juventus, her boyfriend Douglas Luiz is having a completely different experience.
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And after it was the first “pair transfer” in football history, the two superstars could be forced to consider a long-distance agreement in January.
Aston Villa face Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, five months after Lehmann and Luiz moved together from Birmingham to Turin.
Midfielder Luiz spent five years at Villa Park and emerged as a key player during the club’s renaissance under Unai Emery.
However, at the end of an impressive 2023/24 season, Villa were forced to accept a £41.6m offer from Juventus in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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Off the pitch, the Brazilian entered into a high-profile relationship with one of the most famous players in women’s football: Swiss striker Lehmann.
The pair went public in 2021, shortly after Lehmann moved to Villa from WSL rivals West Ham.
In addition to his impressive goal-scoring ability, the 25-year-old is also a global phenomenon on social media and boasts a whopping 17 million followers on Instagram.
That is significantly more than the Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer (13 million) – and more than four times the following of Aston Villa itself (4 million).
Speaking to The Pitch Prospect in 2023, Lehmann admitted it is frustrating when fans think of her as more of an influencer than a footballer.
She said: “Some people just see Instagram and social media and don’t even know I actually play football.
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“If I don’t post a football picture for a week, people say, ‘Oh, she’s not even playing.’
“I think sometimes it’s a bit difficult because of course I play like I train every day, like everyone else, like I play every weekend, and sometimes it’s difficult because they create an image of you.
“I am a real footballer. I work hard every day. I want to be the best version of myself in football and that is my top priority in life.”
That work paid off when she was named Villa’s Fan Player of the Season in the 2023/24 season, helping them achieve their highest ever WSL finish and reach two domestic cup semi-finals.
Just days after partner Luiz signed a five-year deal with Juventus, Lehmann landed a three-year contract with the Italian giants’ women’s team.
About moving with her boyfriend, Lehmann said: “It’s a dream for Douglas and me to be in the same club together.”
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“We’ve often played in different cities, so it’s wonderful to be able to have these great adventures in the same place.”
On the pitch, Lehmann played in all eleven games in the top division, scoring two goals and providing one assist – putting the Old Lady pretty much at the top of the league.
But for Luiz the move was nothing short of disastrous.
The 26-year-old will miss the reunion with his former club on Wednesday evening as he has been sidelined since October due to muscle fatigue.
But even when he was available, Luiz was nowhere near the top of Thiago Motta’s midfield pecking order.
Before his injury problems, the ex-Villa star had only started twice and was desperately struggling to find a rhythm at his new club.
In October, Luiz conceded two penalties in four days, both after coming on as a substitute in the final 30 minutes, damaging his reputation among fans who had high expectations of the summer signing.
Given the abundance of midfielders and the lack of fit centre-backs, The Times reports that Juventus will listen to offers for Luiz in January to help with fundraising.
And Aston Villa sporting director Monchi admits he would bring the Brazilian back in a heartbeat.
“Douglas Luiz is playing less than we all expected, but we are talking about a strong player,” said former Roma director Monchi in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.
“There are players who come and assert themselves and others who need time. Patience is required, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond question.
“Would I take him back? After his departure we made investments and our midfield is well staffed with Tielemans, Onana, Kamara, Barkley… But I would always take Douglas back, at any club: he is first class.
Both Aston Villa and Juventus could face a difficult decision in January.
Perhaps more difficult, however, is that unlike most footballers, Luiz would be forced to leave his long-term partner behind to ensure an exit.