1829: It's being reported, by the way, that Shakhtar playmaker Douglas Costa was a guest of Manchester United at Old Trafford today. Hhmm... *purses lips, strokes chin and nods conspiratorially*
Douglas Costa
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I just don't see why if a deal had been done, we'd then make it this obvious to the world. For one, it's hardly fair on Shakhtar considering they'll need Costa 100% focused on the rest of the season.
I reckon there's a far less sinister reason for this. The Ando one suggested above would make sense.
I reckon there's a far less sinister reason for this. The Ando one suggested above would make sense.
Perhaps Shakatar are the ones shopping him around trying to secure a big money move for him in the summer. What better time than now, with everyone taking notice of them doing well in the champions league?
What positions does he play? Winger/In the hole?
If we are looking to sign him, then I think it'll be in the advanced stages or he wouldnt have been at the stadium where he was going to get spotted.
Or he could be at OT for some other reason.. Has the Ukranian domestic season started?
Or he could be at OT for some other reason.. Has the Ukranian domestic season started?
Officials from both clubs would have had an opportunity to discuss a deal over the last couple of days having been in Nyon (is it Nyon?) for the CL draw.
But in that 10 min video we all saw he looked nothing but impressive.. the thing i liked the most is the way how he loved to pass over shoot and be greedy!
We've had guests before that we havent signed, like that Serbian kid that was in the stands (not Ljajic) but I dont remember one being in the directors box.
As for Anderson and him being friends, are they? They didnt play together at Gremio and havent played for the same national team together. So are they?
As for Anderson and him being friends, are they? They didnt play together at Gremio and havent played for the same national team together. So are they?
He has been great in Europe for them but the fadt that he was at the game today might mean nothing, he might have been invited by da Silvas if they know each other or something. It appears realistic to me though that we might have gone for a less glamourous player after Sanchez has attracted interest of other top sides.
Possibly United tried to buy him in January, but given Shakters CL hopes, they only agreed to deal to get him in the summer.
Interesting, but it makes sense.
It would definitely strengthen our attack if we buy him in the summer for a cheaper price than Sanchez, Hazard, etc.
- He's a 20 year old left footed attacking midfielder/winger and Giggs is retiring soon
- He's comfortable playing on either wing, which is a requirement of our play these days
- We were obviously interested in him before when he was just "potential". His performances for Shaktar have proven his class.
- He's already used to the type of climate he would face in Europe
- He takes a decent set piece
- Obertan and Bebe have been struggling to show their quality on the wings
It would definitely strengthen our attack if we buy him in the summer for a cheaper price than Sanchez, Hazard, etc.
Well I try not to get carried away by videos because all it shows is how good someone looks when it comes off. How flashy they are. Barthez looked amazing in highlight videos... What really counts is being one of the more productive members of your team and doing it in the big matches. For Gremio he was incredibly dissappointing after scoring on his debut, causing all the hype and excitement over "The new Anderson". So for us to go out and pay big money for him? Would have been a joke.
He seems to have grown up a lot since then, having moved and settled in a new country and would be less of a risk at this point. Probably cost more but its worth it to get a player who is ready rather than one who is not and may never be
Takes place from July to June by the looks of it, but has a few months of a break over the winter until early March.
Think Charley's possibly onto something with him being Fergie's January target.
One other thing is he's always been known as a freekick taker. I can remember at least one nice one this season too. Definitely wouldnt hurt
He was hardly going to be in the Stretty...
Its safe to say he will be a united player (might as well say it as da silvas/andersons 'mate' is funny) .....unless something happens like injury or rejection of work permit. I imagine United will use Shaktars performance in Europe and Costas to show his potential seeing as he's uncapped...
I know you cant ever go by a video but atleast that shows us what he is capable of.. and it was just 2-3 dribbles it was more like 40 different plays in over 10-20 matches.. That potential was always there which explains exactly why we asked for a trial.. to have a closer look at him.. Also just because other teams weren't interested doesn't mean squat! How many teams were interested in Hernandez, Ole etc..
Were they both at Gremio at the same time?
Daniel Taylor picks up the story. Raises good point about the work permit. Harder when he has not played for his country.
Manchester United have their eye back on Shakhtar's Douglas Costa | Football | guardian.co.uk
Manchester United have their eye back on Shakhtar's Douglas Costa | Football | guardian.co.uk
Manchester United have their eye back on Shakhtar's Douglas Costa | Football | guardian.co.uk
Manchester United have their eye back on Shakhtar's Douglas Costa
• Brazilian watches Bolton match as United's guest
• Sir Alex Ferguson previously tried to sign 20-year-old
Manchester United have resurrected their longstanding interest in Douglas Costa, the 20-year-old Brazilian who was once hailed as "the new Ronaldinho" and has been on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar for the past four years.
Costa, a part of the Shakhtar Donetsk side that have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, was a guest of the club for the 1-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers, sitting in the directors' box alongside several of his representatives and United officials.
The club would not make any official comment but the Observer has been told Ferguson still has a serious interest in the player almost two years after he first tried to sign him from the Brazilian club Gremio. The proposed deal fell through at the time and Costa eventually moved to Skakhtar for a cut-price €6m in January 2010. After a slow start, he has become a key member of Mircea Lucescu's squad, scoring 15 goals in 61 appearances.
He has not, however, made an appearance for the Brazil senior team, and United are aware that may lead to problems securing a work permit if they can persuade Shakhtar to do a deal. The fee may also constitute a problem, with Shakhtar understood to want a sizeable profit if they are to lose the Under-20 international. Costa's advisers have been led to believe that may be a minimum £20m.
Ferguson, however, has long rated Costa among the more exciting young talents to emerge from South America, after coming to his attention via the club's extensive scouting network in Brazil. Costa has indicated he would like to move to England, despite having four years of his contract to run.
Costa helped Brazil to victory in the South American Youth Championship in 2009, scoring three goals in the process, but United's interest in the player dates back to when he was 16. Gremio is the club where Ronaldinho made his breakthrough and Costa has obvious similarities in terms of his ability to run with the ball and beat opponents, operating on either flank or in an advanced midfield position.
Manchester United have their eye back on Shakhtar's Douglas Costa
• Brazilian watches Bolton match as United's guest
• Sir Alex Ferguson previously tried to sign 20-year-old
Manchester United have resurrected their longstanding interest in Douglas Costa, the 20-year-old Brazilian who was once hailed as "the new Ronaldinho" and has been on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar for the past four years.
Costa, a part of the Shakhtar Donetsk side that have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, was a guest of the club for the 1-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers, sitting in the directors' box alongside several of his representatives and United officials.
The club would not make any official comment but the Observer has been told Ferguson still has a serious interest in the player almost two years after he first tried to sign him from the Brazilian club Gremio. The proposed deal fell through at the time and Costa eventually moved to Skakhtar for a cut-price €6m in January 2010. After a slow start, he has become a key member of Mircea Lucescu's squad, scoring 15 goals in 61 appearances.
He has not, however, made an appearance for the Brazil senior team, and United are aware that may lead to problems securing a work permit if they can persuade Shakhtar to do a deal. The fee may also constitute a problem, with Shakhtar understood to want a sizeable profit if they are to lose the Under-20 international. Costa's advisers have been led to believe that may be a minimum £20m.
Ferguson, however, has long rated Costa among the more exciting young talents to emerge from South America, after coming to his attention via the club's extensive scouting network in Brazil. Costa has indicated he would like to move to England, despite having four years of his contract to run.
Costa helped Brazil to victory in the South American Youth Championship in 2009, scoring three goals in the process, but United's interest in the player dates back to when he was 16. Gremio is the club where Ronaldinho made his breakthrough and Costa has obvious similarities in terms of his ability to run with the ball and beat opponents, operating on either flank or in an advanced midfield position.
Don't see the problem if Anderson got a permit.
Definitely worth a bit of knuckle shuffling action - even if it might be a coincidence
Tory government now though...
Yep. Although according to Wiki, Costa was in Gremio's youth team when Ando made the first team. It's unlikely that he was Ando's guest but possible though.
Interesting.
Would be an exciting signing.
Now that is indeed interesting and it would blow my "Ando's guest theory" out of water.
How many does he need? Those buggers will all want a piece of the pie, and that'll only put his price up.
Plot thickens.
Valencia were the ones who missed out on Hernandez. Would have been a good replacement for David Villa, no?
He's going to cost a massive fee if we are ever going to buy him
Can we just groom Obertan and Bebe good and proper first? Don't need another project in the making in this Douglas Costa
Can we just groom Obertan and Bebe good and proper first? Don't need another project in the making in this Douglas Costa
They are not in any need of money, they've got a rich owner and they'll happily keep their top players. Obviously they will try to get the best deal they can out of players who can progress to bigger clubs, but I doubt they'll be shopping him around like that.
Re Hernandez, SAF said we built up a very good relationship with his club once we showed an interest and a deal was then agreed.
Perhaps this has happened again?
Perhaps this has happened again?
Isn't he the most ludicrously one sided player ever?...We've already got one of them
At one point today Valencia's marker fell over to his left (and Tony's right) leaving the whole left side of the pitch completely free to attack and he still tried to go down the right, and was tackled by a prone man on the floor...Idiot.
Do we really need two of these people?
At one point today Valencia's marker fell over to his left (and Tony's right) leaving the whole left side of the pitch completely free to attack and he still tried to go down the right, and was tackled by a prone man on the floor...Idiot.
Do we really need two of these people?
If he's told them he'd like to leave, or if that was part of his original agreement, then they'll be shopping him around as much as possible to secure the best deal
He seems significantly more ready for us than either of them. He's a key player in a strong Shaktar side, domestically and in Europe.
Well the one side where he has looked class is the right hand side. Even though he's left footed.
So its a strange comparison to Valencia in the same post complaining about his ability on his "wrong" side.
Much more comparible is Arjen Robben, who is brilliant on the right.
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