- Sydney FC have signed Douglas Costa on a two-year deal
- World Cup winner played for Bayern Munich and Juventus
- Aussies happy they don’t have to play him again this time
Sydney FC players Rhyan Grant and Andrew Redmayne will be lucky to call Douglas Costa their team-mate this season, having themselves fallen victim to the Brazilian star’s brilliance 15 years ago.
The Sky Blues announced on Monday that they have signed the 33-year-old former Juventus and Bayern Munich winger on a two-year deal in a move that will boost the A-League’s profile.
Costa’s arrival was greeted with joy by his new Sydney team-mates, including defender Grant and goalkeeper Redmayne, who played against him at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Grant and Redmayne were part of the Australian team that lost 3-1 to Brazil in a Group E match in which Costa scored.
“I’ve always kept an eye on him because I had the chance to play against him when he was still coming up,” said experienced right-back Grant.
‘I can’t remember everything about that match…but he knocked me over a couple of times.
‘It was a really cool experience to play against him, and now that I can play alongside him as a teammate 15 years later, it’s also great.
“It’s something that sports can do. After so many years, the circle is complete and we become teammates. That’s very special.”
Former Juventus star Douglas Costa is set to ignite the A-League this season (pictured in action for Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS competition)
Sydney FC have signed the former Juventus and Bayern Munich star to a two-year contract
Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said on Monday that Costa’s presence in the A-League is similar to the way the Sky Blues signed Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero – the best player ever to play in the competition – for two seasons from 2012 to 2014.
“Del Piero was such an incredible player and there were a lot of Italians in Australia and Sydney who really supported him,” Grant said of the 2006 World Cup winner’s time with the Sky Blues.
‘Douglas can do something similar with a large section of the Brazilian community, especially the many who live in Bondi.
‘I am sure that with his flair he will fill the hall and challenge the audience.’
‘These are exciting times.’
Andrew Redmayne (pictured) is delighted to call Douglas Costa his team-mate after falling victim to the Brazilian star’s brilliant performances 15 years ago
Rhyan Grant said it’s “really cool” to finally play with the superstar
The arrival of Costa, who was also part of the Brazil team that beat the Socceroos 4-0 in a friendly at the MCG in 2017, is likely to be followed by the arrival of another foreign striker in Sydney, with the Sky Blues close to securing the loan of 26-year-old Polish marksman Patryk Klimala from Slask Wroclaw.
Talay said Klimala, who previously played for Scottish giants Celtic, is in the age category Sydney would like to have in the squad.
“He’s in the in-between age range that we’re missing,” Talay said.
After being ousted by Central Coast Mariners in the race for former Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury, the Sky Blues are still on the lookout for an experienced Australian centre-back, preferably one who is currently based overseas.