Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Thursday, 26 February 2026 23:43 / Updated on Thursday, 26 February 2026 23:48
Once a player with matches in the UEFA Champions League, Douglas Costa ended up playing in Italy's fourth division. The 35-year-old Brazilian played for Chievo Verona in the 0-3 defeat at Oltrepe's ground, played at “Il Comunale San Contardo di Broni”, a stadium with a capacity of only 750 seats.
Former player at Bayern Munich, Juventus, Shakhtior Donetsk, but also at Gremio or Fluminense, Douglas Costa surprised the football world by his choice to sign in Serie D, the fourth football echelon in Italy.
PHOTO. Douglas Costa, duel in a stadium with a capacity of 750 seats
The winger has signed a six-month deal with Chievo, with the clear aim of helping the team gain promotion to Serie C, before heading to Saudi Arabia for Al-Ittifaq.
In the first three appearances, however, the start was not the desired one: three consecutive defeats for the team from Verona.
Mario Balotelli, the man behind the move
The transfer was facilitated by the friendship with Mario Balotelli. “It all started because of Mario, we are very good friends. He put me in touch with the president and the sports director. Chievo has an important history, so I immediately accepted“, said Douglas Costa to the Italian press.
The Brazilian also recalled an episode from the past: in January 2019 he scored against Chievo, when they were opponents in Serie A.Maybe I should have gotten my revenge. Now I want to take the team to Serie C”he said, according to besoccer.com.
Over the course of his career, a total of approximately €84 million was paid for Douglas Costa's transfers. Currently, the Brazilian is quoted at 400,000 euros on the specialist website Transfermarkt.
