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It at last is official: Juventus Turin at last activated Douglas Costa’s option to buy, purchasing the Brazilian winger for €40 million (Abendzeitung, Sport Bild). Juventus already paid Bayern Munich €6 million for the loan itself, as a kind of advance. The total amount, some €46 million, makes Costa easily Bayern's record sale.
What a difference a year makes. Costa joined the bianconeri at the beginning of the 2017/18 season, after a disappointing second season in Munich. Costa's performances had dipped after his electrifying first season under Pep Guardiola, and he also seemed to chafe as the second choice to an aging Franck Ribery, provoking Bayern president Uli Hoeness to some unflattering remarks after his departure.
But Costa has thrived in Turin, scoring six goals and assisting a whopping 14 others (tied with Miralem Pjanic). His €46 million transfer fee, set in 2017, is arguably undervalued—transfermarkt.de estimates his current value at €55 million, for what it is worth.
Juventus's manager Giuseppe Moratta had declared in May that the club would purchase Costa. The transfer fee will be paid over the next two years. Costa's contract with Juventus runs through 2022.