David Luiz: I was right to quit Chelsea for PSG

David Luiz

David Luiz likes to smile. And so after Chelsea’s defeat at Newcastle, you can imagine the happy-go-lucky Brazil defender seeing the funny side of his Paris Saint-Germain side now being the only unbeaten club in all competitions in the top five leagues in Europe.

That record will face its stiffest test in the Nou Camp on Wednesday, when the French champions aim to stop Barcelona winning their Champions League group for the first time since 2006-07.

A draw for PSG will be enough for them to top Group F ahead of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and co. And at the heart of their rearguard will be the world’s most expensive defender who has quickly shone in the City of Light.

“I made a good choice coming here,” said Luiz. “I am happy to play in this team. Of course I smile a lot. I am a happy boy.”

In a country beset by economic woes and political scandals, the Brazilian’s joie de vivre has been a welcome distraction on the other side of the Channel.

He is loved by the media for stopping to talk to them after every match, recently fronted campaign against AIDS and is happy to laugh at himself.

Luiz recently told the story of how he was rejected by one club as a boy for being too small.

“They said to me that I would never grow,” he said. “And look, I am 1.89metres today - not far from 2m with my hair!”

Even his mother recalled how she was called to his school when he was only six because he got on table and did a strip-tease down to his pants when the teacher went out of the room.

Like David Beckham during his brief spell at the Parc des Princes - or the more brooding figure of their current striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - his popularity transcends PSG or even football fans.

His appeal can be measured by his success on social media with 5.7 million followers on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram.

“I cannot share all my secrets, but I like to show that I am happy,” he explained. “And as I don’t like my face when it is normal, as a general rule, I make faces.

‘This activity allows me to be closer to the fans. I can show them my real personality.”

Cynics would suggest the Qatari-owned PSG spent £40m on Luiz for his profile and popularity in South America and Asia as they strive to crack those growing markets.

Certainly Jose Mourinho and Chelsea did not need much convincing to accept the transfer fee, which helped buy Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas in this FFP age.

And after his performances in the World Cup - especially the 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany - the Stamford Bridge club appeared to have done the deal of the decade.

But with former France centre-back Laurent Blanc as his head coach, Luiz’s game has matured and he has only picked up one booking so far as PSG chase their own Quadruple.

Former PSG coach Laurent Fournier told L’Equipe: “He has integrated himself without acting like the star - just being himself. Honestly, I thought he would have more problems after his World Cup. We saw him running everywhere - he was extremely indisciplined [in the World Cup].

“But Laurent Blanc has understood how to channel him, give him confidence and he has shown a lot of energy. I have only seen him play well, especially in the Champions League. He has a lot of experience. He can bring to Paris what they were missing last season in the quarter-final against his Chelsea.”

Luiz has not been bought to win the domestic title. PSG have won it the last two years under Carlo Ancelotti and then Blanc.

What the Qataris now want is European success - and with style.

They have reached the quarter-finals in the last two seasons but gone out each time on the away goal rule after the two legs finished 3-3: two seasons ago against Barcelona and last year against Luiz’s Chelsea.

Bizarrely, Barcelona’s only win in six games against PSG was the 1-0 triumph in the 1997 Cup Winners’ Cup Final, when coached by Sir Bobby Robson. Current Barca coached Luis Enrique played in that one, and Blanc was in the squad.

PSG won the reverse fixture 3-2 in September, thanks to the Brazilian’s first goal for the club.