Douglas Costa Aims to Make History with Sydney FC

Brazilian star Douglas Costa has set his sights on adding more silverware to his already impressive collection as he embarks on his journey with Sydney FC, following in the footsteps of Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero. Costa, the latest marquee signing for the A-League Men, made his intentions clear during his official unveiling with the iconic Sydney Opera House as the backdrop.

Costa, who has enjoyed successful stints with European giants like Juventus and Bayern Munich, expressed his excitement about joining Sydney FC and his desire to continue his winning ways. “I’ve always played for the best teams in their leagues, like Juventus and Bayern. It’s the same with Sydney,” Costa told AAP on Monday through an interpreter. “That’s the motivation of all players. We all like to win and make history.”

The 33-year-old winger joins Sydney FC on a two-year contract after being released early by Brazilian Serie A club Fluminense in July. His extensive resume includes five trophies with Juventus, six titles with Bayern Munich, and 11 cups with Shakhtar Donetsk. Additionally, Costa has represented Brazil on 31 occasions, featuring in the 2015 Copa America and the 2018 World Cup.

While Costa is eager to add more titles to his name, he is also keenly aware of his potential impact on the A-League. With over 13 million social media followers, Costa is seen as a game-changer who could help elevate the struggling league, much like Del Piero did during his time with Sydney FC.

“I spoke with Alex Baumjohann (Sydney FC player manager), and he told me about the vision to develop football here,” Costa said. “He mentioned that I could play an important role in this big moment for football in Australia. It’s a huge motivation for me to take on this challenge.”

Costa’s arrival has already generated excitement among fans, and the Australian Professional Leagues are hopeful that his presence will draw more attention to the league. “I hope to play good football for the fans because if it’s good, they’ll come more often,” Costa added.

After arriving in Australia on Saturday evening, Costa trained with his new teammates for the first time on Monday. He expressed his eagerness to integrate with the squad and contribute to the team’s success. “Slowly, I’ll get to know all of my teammates and how they play,” he said. “There are a lot of quality players here, and I’m looking forward to winning together. Of course, sometimes we might lose together, but that’s all part of the process.”

Costa concluded by expressing his happiness and determination to succeed in this new chapter of his career. “I’m very happy. I hope and wish that I can do well and respond well to this challenge for the whole team.”