Report: Juventus and Roma could move for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa following refusal to return to Ukraine

Serie A duo Juventus and Roma could be set to compete for the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa, according to reports. Website calciomercato.com suggests that the two Italian outfits may look to take advantage of the 23 year-old’s refusal to return to Ukraine, following a friendly match against Lyon on Saturday. Costa is […]
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sambafoot_admin
2014-07-22 15:44:00

Serie A duo Juventus and Roma could be set to compete for the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa, according to reports.

Website calciomercato.com suggests that the two Italian outfits may look to take advantage of the 23 year-old’s refusal to return to Ukraine, following a friendly match against Lyon on Saturday.

Costa is one six players – also fellow Brazilians Alex Teixiera, Dentinho, Fred and Ismaily, plus former Vélez Sarsfield striker Facundo Ferreyra – who reportedly fear for their safety due to the current conflict in Donetsk, where the Ukrainian military is trying to seize control of the city from pro-Russian rebels.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu blames agent Kia Joorabchian for instigating the boycott, but with the situation unresolved, the Romanian tactician will have to take on Dynamo Kyiv today in the Ukrainian Super Cup without six of his most important players, while the opening Ukrainian Premier League match against Metalurh Zaporizhya on Saturday could also be compromised.

If the stand off continues, then the possibility of transfers away from Shakhtar becomes more likely, with Costa an attractive proposition.

The Sapucaia do Sul native – a €6 million signing from Grêmio in January 2010 – scored seven goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions last season. Across his three and a half years with Shakhtar, Costa has won ten major honours and also holds an EU passport, which is particularly attractive to Juventus and Roma, given Serie A’s non-EU regulations.