David Luiz: World Cup nightmare is over, says £48m PSG defender

Luiz says he has recovered from 7-1 mauling

Tom Sheen
Thursday 07 August 2014 14:42 BST
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PSG signing David Luiz says he has recovered from Brazil's 7-1 defeat to Germany at the World Cup
PSG signing David Luiz says he has recovered from Brazil's 7-1 defeat to Germany at the World Cup (Getty Images)

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Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz says he has finally recovered from Brazil's World Cup disaster.

Luiz was pilloried for his performance in the 7-1 semi-final mauling at the hands of eventual champions Germany.

The former Chelsea defender, who was speaking for the first time as a PSG player after his record-breaking move, said he has had "time to digest" the shocking performance.

"If the World Cup had finished at the quarter-final stage then you wouldn't be asking questions about my ability," the 27-year-old said at a press conference.

"I've had time to digest the end of our World Cup and now I'm ready to do everything to help PSG."

The £48m fee makes Luiz the most expensive defender ever, and Luiz says he can't wait to get started in Ligue 1.

"I feel privileged," he added. "I'm part of a fantastic team in which everyone has something to teach me. It's wonderful to be part of this project," he said, while adding that "Chelsea are history".

"I hope to be 100% next week and on the pitch as soon as possible. I'm ready to help in any position on the field."

Luiz won an FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea, scoring 12 goals in 143 matches.

"David Luiz will help us achieve our goal of winning the Champions League," said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

The Qatari also said that the club will not be signing Real Madrid and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria.

"It is true that we have held talk with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez but he is too expensive for us. We have stopped negotiations."

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