Brazil Legend Douglas Costa Fights for Italian Fourth Tier Club

Douglas Costa has traded Champions League glory for Serie D pitches, and he couldn't be happier about it.

The 35-year-old Brazilian winger, who won three Serie A titles with Juventus and lifted the Bundesliga trophy with Bayern Munich, is now playing for AC Chievo Verona in Italy's fourth tier. His mission is simple: help the once-proud club return to professional football after bankruptcy nearly ended their story in 2021.

Costa's unexpected arrival came through an unlikely connection. He was planning a beach vacation in Brazil when friend Mario Balotelli invited him to Dubai instead. When Balotelli's UAE club didn't have room for Costa, they suggested a six-month stint at Chievo to stay fit.

The move made sense to Costa, who scored the winning goal against Milan's under-23 team in the Serie D playoff semifinals. "I love Italy very much, so deciding to return was easy," he told BBC Sport.

Chievo's fall from grace was dramatic. The Flying Donkeys spent 17 of 18 seasons in Serie A before financial troubles and the pandemic forced them into bankruptcy. They were expelled from professional football entirely in 2021.

Former club legend Sergio Pellissier rescued the team by founding a new club and acquiring the historic Chievo Verona brand in 2024. President Pietro Laterza, who also owns Balotelli's Dubai club, invested heavily in training facilities and brought in young prospects alongside experienced players.

Why This Inspires

Costa's presence goes beyond his skill on the ball. He's mentoring teenagers who dream of professional careers, showing them what's possible through his own journey.

"Young players need experience," Laterza explains. "Champions like Douglas are a huge source of inspiration and motivation."

The Brazilian adapted to amateur football's different reality with grace. Opposition fans sometimes cheer when he touches the ball, hoping to witness something special. "Football is joy for me," Costa says. "When the ball is at my feet, I'm happy."

Chievo faces Casatese Merate on Sunday in their playoff final. Winning won't guarantee promotion automatically, but given several third-tier clubs' financial troubles, vacancies should open up.

Costa's three months in Verona haven't produced the fireworks of his prime years, but his playoff goal might prove decisive. More importantly, he's helped change the team's mentality and approach to professionalism.

"My challenge has been adapting to amateur football and trying to raise the level of the league," he says. "The beautiful thing is that sometimes even the opposition fans cheer for us."

For a player who's conquered Europe's biggest stages, finding joy in Italy's fourth division shows what football is really about.