Balotelli mediated
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This article appeared on Transfermarkt in its first version on January 15th. at 3:19 p.m. and was updated after the official announcement.
Ex-Bayern professional Douglas Costa is back in Europe and Italy. The 35-year-old surprisingly signed a contract with Italian fourth division club Chievo Verona until the end of the season. The background to the whole thing is probably a double deal with Al-Ittifaq FC from the United Arab Emirates.
Because both clubs have the same owner, Pietro Laterza, who recently lured Mario Balotelli (35) to Dubai. However, the bottom team in the second-tier UAE First Division League cannot sign another foreigner this winter. The plan is therefore: Costa should contribute to promotion to Serie C in Verona and then move on to Al-Ittifaq.
Costa has been without a club since September 2025. The winger most recently played in the A-League with Sydney FC and contributed six goals and eight assists in 25 games. The Australian record champions terminated the contract after legal and personal matters in his home country prevented Costa from leaving Brazil. At that time, more than two months had been given to resolve his problems. However, the professional had told his club that there was no end in sight.
Costa was active in the Bundesliga for FC Bayern from 2015 to 2017 and again in the 2020/21 season. In the three seasons, the Brazilian became German champion three times. He also won the DFB Cup with Bayern in the 2015/16 season, the Club World Cup once in 2021 and the Super Cup once in the 2016/17 season. Costa recorded 15 goals and 30 assists in 97 games.
Costa then stayed at Juventus Turin, where he was also champion three times, cup winner once and Super Cup winner once. The only thing he is missing at Juventus is the Club World Cup in order to have the same trophy cabinet as in Munich. There he contributed ten goals and 22 assists in 103 games. Other stops in his career included Gremio, Shakhtar Donetsk, LA Galaxy and Fluminense.
Ex-Bayern professional Costa gives Chievo Verona and Serie D prestige
“This commitment shows the club’s willingness to continue building ambitiously and seriously,” explained club boss Laterza, who made a new start in the 4th league with the former first division club in 2024. Balotelli made contact with Costa. “We are convinced that the presence of a player like Douglas Costa will bring prestige to Chievo and the entire Serie D.” Laterza also made it clear: “The agreement is for him to play at Al-Ittifaq next season.”
