Often Smothered Injuries, Douglas Costa Had Thought of Retirement

DBasia.news – Juventus Winger Douglas Costa said he once had the thought of ending his career as a soccer player. This happened because he had difficulty recovering from the injuries he suffered.

The 29-year-old was once considered one of the brightest young talents in the world but he failed to fulfill his promise amid a series of hamstring, calf and knee problems.

“There were times when I thought: ‘Can I keep playing?'” Costa told The Players’ Tribune. “[That’s] because I went out on the field and got injured again,” he said as quoted by Xinhua.

“Then, when I watched it on TV, I remembered this was my passion and that I could still play at the top level. This is what kept me alive, I know football is easy for me. It has nothing to do with money or becoming famous.”

“The point is to do what you enjoy and enjoy doing. That is my goal. I joke with Alex Sandro that I do more scanning than playing games.”

Costa, who has played 31 times for the Brazilian national team, has only appeared 43 times in all competitions for Juventus over the past two years.

He said he had hired a mental trainer to help deal with the psychological effects of injuries.

“People say, ‘Douglas has the potential to be one of the best in the world, but injuries hold him back.’ That bothers me,” said the former Gremio, Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayern Munich player.

“I have the potential to be a top player, but for reasons beyond my control, I can’t.

“Every time I get injured, I ask myself: ‘What did I do wrong?’ I wonder why I can’t play consistently. It’s something that hurts me. Therefore, I ask for help. I don’t know if you’ve heard of mental coaches. They are not psychologists, but they show you how the facts of childhood, can still affect you,” he concluded.