Gary Neville has expressed regret over controversial remarks he made during his punditry career, including a memorable dig at former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz.
David Luiz enjoyed a distinguished career, winning major trophies with Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, and Flamengo.
During his first stint at Chelsea, Luiz helped the team secure the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and two FA Cups.
However, it was also during this time that Neville delivered a scathing critique of the Brazilian.
After a Chelsea defeat to Liverpool in the 2011-12 season, Neville famously claimed that Luiz played as if he were “being controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation.”
Reflecting on the comment during the Stick to Football podcast, Neville admitted that he now regrets the remark, describing it as a “cheap shot.”
“I wish I never said the David Luiz line about him being a ‘PlayStation player,’” Neville confessed.
“It’s a harsh line that stained his career in some ways. He never really got rid of it. It was mean.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright agreed, saying, “The David Luiz comment felt mean.”
Neville also recalled another instance he regrets: his criticism of former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.
The German shot-stopper endured a tough spell at Anfield and is best remembered for his errors in the 2018 Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Liverpool.
“I was quite direct about [Karius] for a couple of months,” Neville admitted. “I remember saying Liverpool would never win the league with him in goal. It turned out to be true in the short term, but it was a strong line for a young goalkeeper.”
Neville shared a moment of reflection when he unexpectedly met Karius at an Italian hotel gym. “I walked in, and there was this big bloke lifting massive weights – it was Karius!
I felt guilty because I knew he would’ve been aware of what I’d said. But he was kind, said ‘Nice to see you,’ and I thought, fair play to him.”
Looking back on his punditry career, Neville acknowledged that while his sharp analysis has often been praised, certain remarks crossed a line.
He concluded, “There’s not many things I regret saying, but the comments about David Luiz and Karius are things I’d take back if I could.”
Despite these moments, Neville continues to be one of football’s most prominent pundits, though his reflections highlight the lasting impact of words in the public sphere.
No player is worried about your opinion of them , who do you think you are, Roy Keane ? One of him is more than enough .
He didn’t lie tho 😂