DOUGLAS COSTA has revealed that he would accept an offer from a big club right away and would welcome Milan.
Shakhtar Donetsk are currently in Italy having a mini-training and yesterday they played out a 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona. Douglas Costa played 70 minutes in that game but couldn’t beat goalkeeper Rafael (Luca Toni and Fred scored).
Costa is one of the players Milan consider an alternative should their attempts to sign Alessio Cerci from Torino prove unfruitful. The Brazilian right winger has now revealed that he is very interested in moving to a bigger club this summer.
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“Who was my idol as a kid? Easy, I grew up in Gremio so it was Ronaldinho. I met him and I was good friends with his nephew and I frequented his house,” Douglas Costa, 23, said in a lengthy interview with Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The jump from going from the house of Ronaldinho to Donetsk in 2010? The change was hard. It was completely different from habits to the food. Then it’s always cold in the streets & also the people are colder. They’re different from us Brazilians.
“The fact that there were many Brazilians in Shakhtar when I arrived? It helped me a lot. Jadson, Fernandinho and the other guys in the team in addition to Mircea Lucescu who speaks Portuguese, were key. Is it still true that the Brazilians of Donetsk are challenged to play ‘Call of Duty’ on Playstaion? Sure. Marlos and Ilsinho are monstrous so I have to improve.
“The progress I’ve made in the five seasons at Shakhtar? I started out great. In my first year I played a lot and did well, I didn’t know anyone but I was still able to play like I did in Brazil. In the next two years I was less on the field; I had made a name for myself and they were ‘expecting’ of me. In the last two seasons I’ve become a starting player and this has helped me a lot to improve all aspects of my game,” continued Costa who scored 7 goals in 39 games for Shakhtar last year.
“The fact that a month ago, 5 teammates and I refused to return to Ukraine due to a fear of war? It was a misunderstanding. We were told that we would’ve lived and played in Kharkiv but we didn’t want to go there. It’s another town on the border with Russia, just 300 miles from where we were. And what if the war had come that far? We were worried for us and for the families and so we didn’t start the season with the team. We asked the President (of Shakhtar Donetsk Rinat Akhmetovto) go to Kiev and meanwhile he decided the same thing so we came back. If I’m still afraid to be in Kiev? The whole country is on high alert. There is tension, it’s undeniable. But most of us the players have the serenity to work hard on the field.
“Lucescu said I should stay for another year in the Champions League and then go to a big club? If I receive an offer from a big club, then I will accept it immediately. I’m thankful for everything that Shakhtar have given me, but I think that I’m ready for a big club. If I’ll follow the footsteps of Ronaldinho who went to Milan? Who would not like to follow in his footsteps?
“Balotelli? He’s one of those players who are so good that there is nothing to say. He’s a champion. Lucescu said I’m stronger than (Colombia’s World Cup star) James Rodriguez? You can’t compare the two of us at the moment. He plays for Real Madrid and I’m at Shakhtar. We’ll be able to compare when I’m at a top club. All of the Brazilians that played for Shakhtar come to the national team only after the leave Ukraine? Maybe it’s because that the level in Ukraine is slightly lower than that of the Serie A, Premier League and La Liga. And coaches, especially in Brazil, look at the major leagues.
“It’s easier to call up someone who plays in a league that you’re familiar with, although there’s potential elsewhere. The 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup? I was in Brazil at the time as I had just gotten married. What happened? Simple, we have the talent but they have the discipline. They don’t have a Neymar or a Balotelli – the top player that decides the game on his own but Germany have grown a lot with consistency, team-work and self-sacrifice to be at the top of the world.”
Shakhtar have already said that Costa may leave the club but the price is still high: they want €25m. It was reported before that Milan could offer €10m for him now and then €15m to be paid over several years. But Cerci is the top option.
i hope cerci deal blow up… so we kan get costa even he will cost 5 million more he will still be much batter for milan.
I`m not sure, Cerci will probably cost around 15 million, which is 10 million less than Costa, which we can invest in a midfielder. I also think that atm Cerci is a better player and he is at the top of his game. Moreover he is Italian and knows a lot of our players already, so he will probably settle in much quicker, which is good because the season will soon start. Either of them will make me happy though. We are being linked to a lot of very defensive midfielders though, which is really not what we need right… Read more »
GO FOR COSTA!! He is only 23!!!
NO TO CERCI!!
yes is a young player, go get costa
if milan were willing to part 30M for iturbe, then i would pay 25M for costa with no problems. he could’ve cost more in a normal situation. he’s 23 with top level experience.
Go for Douglas Costa Cerci is not Worth it Torino is asking Cristante to be included in the deal i have Heard then Torino can go and F themselves
Agreed, we really should hold onto Christante, he is a gem!
I think Milan have to go for Douglas Costa. Normally I would prefer Cerci because he’s most likely the safer option because he’s proven himself in Seria A. But Milan have to take a chance so they end up with a world class player because they won’t be able to afford one any time soon.
How Milan should conclude the remaining days of the transfer market ; – Loan out Gabriel, Sell Agazzi and promote Narduzzo as 3rd gk – Zaccardo and Didac can leave. Approx. around 3.5M + wages saved – Mexes to Man Utd? 5M + 4M/annum saved. If Utd wont take him teams like AS Monaco or PSG will snatch him up – Bonera. No comment – Zapata is wanted by teams such as Man Utd and Juventus, at the right price he can leave, too many mistakes in this seasons pre season. Around 7-8.5M (had a solid WC) – Abate sold?… Read more »
nice one @nattimalta its obvious what a true creative central midfielder can do for a team. just look at cesc for Chelsea. there are many quality bargains put there if we look well enough
I m expecting 5 more players to leave
and we must sign
1.Dauglas costa
2.Clement Granier
3.Adel Taraabt
and we are gonna conquer seria A and storm the CL next season…Forza Milan
Dream on. Even if we get these 3 players, this team still isn’t good enough for a top three finish
New name for Milan, its Lestienne! He is fast, good dribbling skill, his ability is not far from cerci or douglas costa
I agree @ sulex pato