Douglas Costa is the marquee the A-League deserves, but is he the one it needs right now?
Christian Montegan 
Douglas Costa in action for Brazil in 2018. Photo: Wiki Commons - Granada CC BY-SA 4.0 cropped
What exactly is the definition of ‘marquee signing’ in the A-League? The regulations would tell you it’s a player whose wages exceed $600k and sit outside the salary cap, whereas the marketers may suggest it’s down to bums on seats, world class talent.
Over the years, the A-League has been accustomed to many marquee additions. Unfortunately, more often than not, they fail to fulfil their potential.
Examples of Nani, Daniel Sturridge, Charlie Austin, and to an extent Keisuke Honda, have left fans craving for more productive output from their big-name stars.
On Monday, Sydney FC announced the sensational signing of Brazilian winger Douglas Costa on a two-year deal – virtually out of nowhere.
The move has drawn comparisons to Italian and Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero’s move to the Sky Blues in 2012, hailed by many as a successfully ambitious acquisition.
Sydney boss Ufuk Talay compared the pair, saying: “They played in the same competition (Italian Serie A). They are different type of players… but you look at Douglas’ career and what he’s achieved, I think he’s up there with Del Piero.”
With Costa yet to take the pitch, it is obviously extremely early to begin to compare their impact on the league. But, whilst Del Piero helped sell memberships, got people into the stands and ticked every marketing box possible, the 2006 World Cup winner delivered on the pitch – scoring 24 goals in 48 games all while wearing the captain’s armband.
For every optimist, there is a pessimist, and the worrying concern is the fear that Costa has arrived for a holiday – unprepared to roll up his sleeves, given how often fans have been burned by big names in the past.
But the question should not be whether Douglas Costa can replicate Alessandro Del Piero’s success. Instead, the question is; should Australian football divert from these types of signings to prioritise a youth development mindset with a healthy mix of visa players with something still to prove?
In terms of CV, there can be no ignoring Costa’s experience. 24 trophies, six league titles combined with Bayern Munich and Juventus, 31 caps for Brazil and former teammates with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Robert Lewandowski.
Sure, recent stints with LA Galaxy and Fluminense have been underwhelming, impacted by injuries that have plagued the back end of his career.
A player of that calibre, however, should be poached whenever the opportunity arises.
Make no mistake – the competition will not shy away from focusing on youth development and embedding teenagers into first-team football. Long-term, that is the most sustainable model, tying down youngsters on long-term contracts and selling them overseas for profit.
Yet that should not be enough to discount a player like Costa joining in on the A-League fun. Why? Because as it often does, the perfect answer lies at neither extreme, but rather somewhere in the middle.
Although developing youth and exposure to first-team football is the way forward and highly welcomed, at the end of the day, it has its ceiling.
Diehard A-League fans will never leave regardless of the code’s state. But the more casual audience with a strong interest in European football, haven’t been catered for regularly since the Del Piero, Shinji Ono and Emile Heskey era.
Fans against Costa’s arrival will argue that Australian football currently finds itself at one of its lowest points since the competition’s inception two decades ago. Correct – partly because the Del Piero-calibre signings fell by the wayside and were not consistent.
The reality is that Australian football is not at a stage yet where a mega superstar can perform for a couple of seasons and all of a sudden sell out stadiums and break record TV numbers. It’s going to take time to sway non-A-League fans to appreciate the domestic game, but this is progress.
If Australian clubs are to be taken seriously in Asia, then youth alone will not cut it. Ono is a prime example, helping guide the Western Sydney Wanderers to unlikely, yet historic Asian Champions League glory in 2014. Costa can provide that extra bit of class to unlock defences and frighten some of the continent’s best.
A goal return similar to that of Del Piero during his time down under should not be expected. The Brazilian has never been an out-and-out goal scorer, finding the back of the net 10 times in three seasons at Juventus in his prime.
What he lacks in front of goal will be made up with pace, skill and flair out in wide areas – not afraid to go one-on-one with his man.
Football is slowly losing those types of individuals who are allowed the freedom to express themselves in an era absorbed by the tiniest of tactical details and a certain way of playing.
Douglas Costa will bring Australian football fans that creative flair, of that there is no question. Could he even go on to do what Del Piero couldn’t – have team success in Australia? We’ll have to wait and see.