Wishful thinking?! Douglas Costa eager to make dream return to Juventus after being released by LA Galaxy

• Costa released by LA Galaxy
• Brazilian talks up Juve return
• Calls Serie A "club of my heart"

WHAT HAPPENED? In an exclusive interview with Tutto Juve, the Brazilian — who played for The Old Lady between 2017 and 2022 — described his time in the States as an "incredible experience" but emphasised his desire for a new challenge. Having enjoyed his past spell in Serie A, Costa seems eager to explore a potential return to Italy after LA Galaxy cut ties with the veteran winger.

WHAT THEY SAID: "No player in the world can refuse Juventus," said Costa. "It is the club of my heart. What I want most now is to be there fighting to return to the glory days, because I know that together with our fans it would be possible to do it! And Juventus must always be at the highest levels." He continued: "The moments in Turin were unforgettable, but who knows what the future may hold. Maybe we will be there together to write other victorious chapters of this story. It would certainly be a dream to return to the family."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Those comments are pretty striking considering the lack of formal interest from Juventus at this stage. It seems as though Costa is attempting to talk himself into a move back to his dream club, but whether that's a realistic option at this stage is pretty uncertain. The 33-year-old appears to be past his best, and his time at Galaxy was marred by off-field issues, while his form on the pitch was hardly electric.

IN THREE PHOTOS:

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LA Galaxy

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WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS? It's been a fairly strong start to the season for Juventus, who are currently just two points off the top of Serie A under veteran coach Massimiliano Allegri. With forwards like Federico Chiesa, Dusan Vlahovic and Moise Kean all on the books, it's hard to see where Costa would fit in if he were to get his dream move. The Brazilian's future remains up in the air right now.