David Luiz ‘doesn’t want to leave Arsenal’ as agent hints at contract extension despite no talks over new deal
ARSENAL have been handed a boost in their bid to keep David Luiz after the player's agent Kia Joorabchian revealed the Brazilian has no desire to depart the club.
The 33-year-old's contract at the Emirates is set to expire in the summer after he penned an initial one-year deal following his switch from London rivals Chelsea.
There had been speculation that he could return to Benfica after Luiz insisted he wishes to retire at his former employers.
ARSENAL NEWS LIVE: Follow for the latest Gunners news
But Joorabchian has revealed that there is a "very high chance" that his client - who has appeared 32 times for the Gunners this season - will still be an Arsenal player next term.
Speaking to he said: "He's very happy at Arsenal. He has an extremely good relationship with both the coach and the sporting director.
"He has good relationships all throughout the club, right up to the owner. He respects everybody.
"Arsenal had an option, which expired. We also had a pandemic [coronavirus]. So the option expired in the middle of the pandemic.
"We are all very aware of that situation and we are all trying, very slowly, to get back to this 'new normal'.
"These contract situations, these renewals, if he stays or if he goes... will all sort themselves out when we get back to some kind of 'new normal'.
"David will sit down with Arsenal before the season begins, have his conversations and they will both decide if he will stay or not.
LATEST ARSENAL NEWS
"That will come before the season starts. The chances are very high [of Luiz being at Arsenal next season]. There is no desire to leave."
Addressing comments made by Luiz where he stated his intention to rejoin Benfica, Joorabchian added: "What he said was, 'if the opportunity arose in the future - before I retire - I could go back to Benfica and finish my career where I started it'.
"But he never mentioned about wanting to go back to Benfica now."