Beating Casatese Merate in their Serie D play-offs final on Sunday won’t guarantee Chievo a Serie C place for next season – in a complicated system, the league decides which of the play-off winners will fill any Serie C vacancies.
But given the economic situation of several third-tier clubs, often on the verge of declaring bankruptcy or simply without the necessary means to afford the category, their target is still very much within reach.
Costa has not hit the heights of earlier in his career so far in Verona, but a decisive goal in their play-offs semi-finals against Milan Futuro – AC Milan’s Under-23 club – could prove vital.
“I’m here to help the team, both on and off the pitch,” says the Brazilian winger. “My role is also to help…