Contracting with Costa is a step to raise the technical quality of “Al-Ittifaq”

The Executive Director of the Emirati Al-Ittifaq Club, the Portuguese Ricardo Pinto, revealed that the club has signed a contract with Brazilian star Douglas Costa to join the first team starting next August, coinciding with the start of preparations for the 2026-2027 sports season, stressing that the deal represents an important technical addition within the club’s plan to strengthen its ranks.

Pinto said in statements to “Emirates Today” that contracting with Costa comes within the framework of a clear strategy aimed at raising the team’s technical quality, adding: “We are focusing on building a team capable of competing during the coming seasons, due to the player’s global experience that will benefit the team on the offensive level.”

Al-Ettifaq team is in last place in the First Division League with nine points. The team includes in its ranks the Italian star Mario Balotelli and is coached by the Uruguayan Paolo Montero.

Costa has previously represented a number of major clubs, most notably Brazilian Gremio, German Bayern Munich, Italian Juventus, and Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk, where he had professional experiences in the most prominent European leagues, which gives the agreement great tactical and physical experience.

Balance between citizens and foreigners

Pinto pointed out that the club’s management is working to achieve a balance between national and foreign players, explaining: “We have a good group of Emirati players, but the team is still new to the league and needs more development, whether on the technical or physical level or on the level of harmony on the field.”

An upcoming sports complex

Regarding infrastructure, Pinto confirmed that the club pays great attention to this aspect, saying: “One of our most important projects is owning private training facilities and developing academies. We are currently working on establishing an integrated sports complex that will be announced soon, because investment in infrastructure represents the basis of success for any long-term football project.”

Support the national team

Regarding the first UAE national football team, Pinto said that “Al-Abyad” is witnessing remarkable development, which reflects the growth of football in the country and the high level of professionalism within the clubs, stressing that supporting young talents will give the team wider options in future international competitions.

He added: “We believe that improving the level of the local league will reflect positively on the national team, because the increase in the level of competition gives the players greater experience in strong matches.”

Balotelli’s experience

Regarding Italian star Mario Balotelli, Pinto explained: “We are betting on his great experience, but he is part of a group system, and we do not rely on just one player. The team’s success is based on collective performance and tactical organization on the field.”

Professional environment

Regarding his experience in sports work in the Emirates, Pinto said: “I made my decision after careful study, as I found in the Emirates a professional football environment and an opportunity to contribute to a long-term sports project, coinciding with the family’s desire to settle here. Working in Emirati football represents an important professional and humanitarian experience for me.”

The Executive Director of Al Ittifaq Club concluded his speech by emphasizing that working in the Emirates represents an important professional challenge, expressing his confidence in the team’s ability to achieve positive results during the next stage, despite the difficulty of competing in the first division league.