Douglas Costa is closing in on an emotional return to Gremio with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers missing out on the Brazil international, as reported by UOL.
Just six days ago, we reported that both Leeds and Wolves had been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Juventus’s £37 million forgotten man.
At the time, Gremio president Romildo Bolzan had all-but ruled out the prospect of Douglas Costa returning to the club he left nearly a decade ago, pointing out that the Brazilian giants simply didn’t have the funds to sign a man who earns £165,000-a-week in Turin.
Now, everything has changed.
Costa held a meeting with the Gremio bosses on Wednesday.
And, with UOL reporting that the Bayern Munich loanee has agreed to take a substantial pay cut to secure a second spell at the Tricolor, the 30-year-old could even be unveiled later this week.
“He made a tremendous concession, in view of what he receives in Europe,” Gremio’s vice president Marcos Herrmann explains, suggesting that Juventus could now terminate the final 12 months of Costa’s eye-watering contract.
“If Juventus releases him, I’m sure we will reach an agreement. Thanks to the effort he made.”
Calciomercato reported in March that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is a huge fan of the Bundesliga and Serie A champion, believing his supreme technical ability could take an already exhilarating side to a whole new level.
For Costa, however, the lure of home comforts are proving impossible to resist. For the first time since 2010, he will be a Gremio player.
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