A star of the Brazilian national team, the ‘Selecao’, Douglas Costa is one of the most recognised names in world football, having played for European powerhouses Juventus and Bayern Munich.
He made headlines in August when he signed for A-League outfit Sydney FC.
Douglas Costa celebrates a goal with Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Juventus.
The surprising career move is not Costa’s first venture Down Under.
Five years ago, Costa played in exhibition futsal matches, with Brazilian futsal legend Falcao, in Melbourne.
“I am not totally ‘unfamiliar’ to Australia,” he told SBS Portuguese.
Douglas Costa previously played futsal in Australia. Credit: Series Futsal/Instagram
He cites a close relationship with Sydney FC's Head of Football Operations Alex Wilkinson as a key reason.
“[Wilkinson] speaks Portuguese and this helped a lot. My sister has been living here for nine months. All this made sense for me to leave Fluminense and Rio.
“The A-League hasn’t started the season yet, I knew I had time to meet the team, time for training. I wanted to leave Fluminense and go to a place where I could develop my football.”
Douglas Costa left Fluminense for Sydney FC: "I want to improve my game, have more time on the field". Credit: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
“I can also play right but [Joe] Lolley is there, and we can play well together, as a team.
“[Ufuk] Talay, the coach, made it clear what he wants from me as a team player. It’s been very positive.
“I’ve been here for nearly two weeks; training non-stop. I want to show my game, put it in practice, this is why I came for, to play, to have more time on the field.”
Costa’s list of former managers includes Pep Guardiola, Massimiliano Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti, three of the most high-profile managers in world football.
“Pep is not from this world, he taught me a lot about more offensive gameplay and Massimiliano, the opposite, how to play a defensive game.
“Ancelotti was also a great mentor. All these journeys around world football taught me something that I’m bringing to Australia, but I came not to teach anyone, but to play together and learn.”
In terms of derbies, Costa has played in the Der Klassiker and the Derby d’Italia, and is now likely to play in the Sydney Derby.
“Derbies are always gratifying, the biggest fan bases face each other, the passion, the energy is out of this world. To represent these fans on the field is the best feeling.”
“I know that Australian football had Del Piero, whom I knew from LA, and [fellow former Sydney FC players] Bobo, Fabio.” Source: Getty
“In 2009 it was all a dream, people had no expectations from a newcomer, 12 years later, the fans were expecting a player who played in the biggest teams around the world and a former Selecao. But for various reasons, I couldn’t give that to them. I wanted to give them the championship, but I couldn’t. I believe I play better out of Brazil than in.”
Full audio interview in Portuguese
‘Jogo melhor fora do Brasil’: Douglas Costa, a vida na Austrália e o futuro no Sydney FC
Regarding the World Cup and the FIFA qualifying matches, Douglas believes that Brazil will only win if Neymar is on the field. "If he's on the field, we have a chance," he says.
About his football idol, the player he looks up to, "Ronaldinho Gaúcho has always been and will always be my idol. I saw him play when I was still at the beginning of my career," he said.
A pacey and skilful winger for most of his career, Costa says he will bring a new edge to the Sydney FC side and his total focus is to help the team win.
“Regarding my future, I am not seeing myself returning to Brazil. I have a soccer school academy in LA, I will open one here. I am not sure what I will do after Sydney FC. I am here now; I may return to California. But I am here now.”
Douglas Costa was part of Brazil's team 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia: "It was dream I wanted to realise and I did it, I played at the World Cup with our Selecao". Source: Getty / Getty images
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