Friday, 22nd August, 2014
Brazilian attacking midfielder Douglas Costa has admitted that he wants to quit Shakhtar Donetsk this summer, news which is sure to be eagerly digested by suitors AC Milan and Arsenal.
Costa has been unsettled by the political turmoil in the Ukraine, which has forced Shakhtar Donetsk to relocate their training base to the country's capital of Kyiv, while home games will be played at the Arena Lviv, over 600 miles from Donetsk.
And the Brazilian, who has been linked with both AC Milan and Arsenal this summer, is ready to leave if the right offer comes his way, explaining he plans to follow his idol Ronaldinho to large western European sides.
"If an ambitious club make an offer, I will thank Shakhtar and ask to go as I'm ready to play for a big club", he explained to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I want to follow the same path as Ronaldinho", he added.
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The 23-year-old landed at Shakhtar Donetsk from Brazilian outfit Gremio in 2010, costing the Ukrainian giants a fee of €6m.
Costa has enjoyed much success at the Donbass Arena, collecting five Ukrainian Premier League titles, three Ukrainian Cups and three Ukrainian Super Cups.
He has yet to win a senior Brazil cap however.
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