For many the gamble was very much Chelsea’s, but David Luiz has claimed that he took a big risk by accepting a pay cut to return to Stamford Bridge and England – a “country that was not happy with me”.

The risk has already brought reward, as Luiz has completed his set of major trophies with Chelsea by winning his first Premier League title with the club.

And the vindication for both player and club could be underlined on Saturday when Luiz has the chance to help Chelsea to a Premier League and FA Cup Double in his first season back.

Luiz was written off as looking like a defender who was being controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation by Gary Neville during his first spell at Chelsea, in which he collected Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup winners’ medals.

Taking risks on the pitch was what earned Luiz criticism and Sky Sports pundit Neville, plus most other observers, were stunned to see Chelsea re-sign the 30-year-old from Paris St-Germain at the end of last summer’s transfer window. But head coach Antonio Conte has helped Luiz eliminate the defensive gambles that used to get him into trouble and the Brazilian has been superb in the centre of Chelsea’s three-man defence.