Douglas Costa, recently joining Fluminense, has a history with six of its current players. His past associations with Ganso, Marcelo, Renato Augusto, Diogo Barbosa, Thiago Santos, and Calegari span different clubs and the Brazilian national team. These shared experiences in various settings bring a sense of familiarity and teamwork to the club.
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Douglas Costa and Ganso first crossed paths at the 2009 U20 World Cup, representing Brazil. They formed a formidable duo, contributing to Brazil’s journey to the finals. Both players showcased their skills, each scoring in a memorable 3-1 victory over Australia. Despite their efforts, Brazil narrowly missed the championship, losing to Ghana in a tense penalty shootout.
Que honra, Maestro! Escalado para a partida desta noite, PH Ganso completa 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ jogos com a Armadura Tricolor! 🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟 pic.twitter.com/N1knwaMIj5
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) August 25, 2023
Years later, Costa’s path intertwined with Marcelo and Renato Augusto during the qualifiers and the 2018 World Cup. Costa, already a rising star at Bayern Munich, joined forces with these talented players under coach Tite. They shared the disappointment of a 2-1 defeat against Belgium in the World Cup, a match where Marcelo stood out by playing the full 90 minutes.
Alegria e trabalho, Renato! 👑
📸: Marcelo Gonçalves/FFC pic.twitter.com/IhNG5GNzUH
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) January 30, 2024
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📸: Marcelo Gonçalves/FFC pic.twitter.com/MHgL8Tgb0C
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) December 20, 2023
Returning to Brazil in 2021, Costa rekindled his connection with Brazilian football at Grêmio. He played alongside Diogo Barbosa and Thiago Santos. During this season, Costa featured in 28 matches, overlapping with Barbosa in 12 and with Santos in 20. However, this reunion was marred by Grêmio’s relegation, adding a challenging chapter to their careers.
Diogo Barbosa é o novo reforço do Fluminense! Seja bem-vindo ao #TimeDeGuerreiros! 👊🇭🇺
Saiba mais >> https://t.co/jqPPRNme5A pic.twitter.com/delavrtvDH
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) June 22, 2023
O volante Thiago Santos é o novo reforço do FLUMINENSE! Seja bem-vindo ao #TimeDeGuerreiros! 🇭🇺🇭🇺
Saiba mais >> https://t.co/g2fyHqBkAs pic.twitter.com/dzMRUvPcIs
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) March 31, 2023
In the United States, while playing for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2023, Costa welcomed young talent Lucas Calegari, loaned from Fluminense. Together, they played 16 matches, forming a promising partnership. Unfortunately, Calegari’s season was cut short due to a knee injury.
#FLUxVRE|3-0|⏰2T – 10′ – Após boa bola de Jhon Arias, Calegari entra na área e marca o terceiro para o Fluminense! PRA CIMAAAAAA!
ASSISTA AO JOGO EM https://t.co/BxF4y0f1Rk pic.twitter.com/PWf4ZlHdZO
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) February 19, 2022
As Fluminense’s latest acquisition for the season, Costa joins a lineup of impressive signings: Felipe Alves, Antônio Carlos, Gabriel Pires, Renato Augusto, Terans, and the soon-to-be-announced Colombian striker Lucumí.
