Manchester United lose out as Douglas Costa joins Shakhtar Donetsk
January 6, 2010 at 23:06 5 comments
Douglas Costa
Grêmio have confirmed that their highly-coveted midfielder, Douglas Costa, has joined Shakhtar Donetsk for €6.5 million (£5.8 million). The contract was signed on Wednesday but the speed of the deal surprised everyone including the player who was preparing for pre-season with Grêmio. “I wasn’t expecting it. I found out from my agent [Cesar Bottega] when I was still on the bus heading to Bento Gonçalves [for training]. I expected something to happen, but I was focused on Grêmio. Now, I have to think of Shakhtar. I am very happy. The club has tried to buy me twice so I hope I’ll meet their expectations …”. This news may come as a blow to Manchester United who were thought to have been tracking the 19-year-old for over a year and had apparently came very close to signing Costa. At one point, United had apparently even tried to take the Brazil Under 20 player on a two-week loan but this was ruled out by Grêmio. Back in July, I wrote an article wondering whether United were being conned over Costa. But towards the end of 2009, the teenager began to show a little of what he could really do – albeit at a time when Grêmio were out of the running in the Campeonato Brasileiro. The sum paid by the Ukraine side is considerably lower than what Grêmio were asking for a few months ago and some United fans may feel aggrieved that their club has lost out and a player who has the potential to be something special.
Are Manchester United missing out on a future great? Judge for yourself here by watching Costa on FootBrazil
Entry filed under: Douglas Costa, Manchester United rumours. Tags: Douglas Costa, Manchester United, Shakhtar Donestsk and Douglas Costa.
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1. Sexton Blake | January 7, 2010 at 18:52
C’mon, man, lay it on the line – is he top or flop? Con or special talent? (either way, his advisors have made a terrible decision moving him onto Eastern Europe. Poor lad!)
2. pitacodogringo | January 7, 2010 at 20:10
Well, every time i saw him play i have to say that he wasn’t much cop and he was always taken off fairly early on. Saying that, I did see the occasional sign that there could be something special – though these flashes of skill were few and far between.
Costa is one of those players who’s all left foot and rarely uses his right. He can knock in some great crosses – one of these led to Grêmio’s goal vs Flamengo on the final day of the Brasileiro.
Donetsk got him relatively cheaply (by today’s prices) though Grêmio can expect 20% of any future sale. Costa has already said that he intends to use the move to Ukraine as a stepping stone to a bigger club in Europe (not sure how Donetsk will react to this!).
at just under £6 million, he may have been worth a gamble – United could have bought him as ‘one for the future’ but now that chance has gone at least for the immediate future.
As for the player’s advisors: I think it had become clear that despite all the hype around the midfielder, none of the big hitters in Europe were going to make a move for Costa. The agent/lawyers etc are getting their share of the spoils and will do so again when he moves on (or goes back on loan to a Brazilian club after six months in Ukraine!)
3. Dan the man | January 8, 2010 at 11:53
I don’t really think it is United losing out here rather Costa has lost out on United and ended up at those giants of European football Donetsk………………
4. jjlin | January 9, 2010 at 03:02
no brazilian had succeed in EPL.. so i bet united wont spend another big amt for brazilian. United will go for something special we will not panic for buying players
5. Matt | January 9, 2010 at 17:15
I guarantee he will be back playing in Brazil within 2-3 years.