Brazil and Chelsea defender David Luiz has declined to comment on rumours of his possible transfer to Spanish football giants Barcelona after his arrival in Basel for a friendly between Switzerland and Brazil.
Barcelona, after recruiting young Brazilian forward Neymar in June, now wants the Chelsea defender and is willing to pay the British club as much as 35 million euros for him, reports Xinhua.
"Here, I will only talk about the Brazilian lineup," the defender told sports news website GloboEsporte. "It was the way during the Confederations Cup (hosted and won by Brazil in June) and it's going to be the same way now."
About Brazil's first friendly match since winning the Confederations Cup, the defender said it will be "very difficult" for the Brazilians who play for European clubs, since they are just entering the playing season following the summer break.
"It will be a very difficult game against players who have already begun to dispute the championship and their legs are more warmed up. And it will be even more difficult for us, who are just beginning (the season). But we came with joy and happiness," he said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
