Douglas has been advised to shun interest from Manchester United and continue his career in Brazil.
Douglas advised to ignore European interest
Brazilian star Douglas had been advised to shun interest from Manchester United and continue his career in his homeland.
Douglas has emerged as a transfer target for The Red Devils - who have a very strong scouting network in South America.
United have already plundered top Brazilian talents like Rodrigo Possebon, and twins Rafael and Fabio, over the past year and Douglas looks to be the latest on Sir Alex Ferguson's agenda.
Jaap Stam, recently added to United's scouting staff by Ferguson, watched 18-year-old Douglas in action earlier this month and is reported to have issued a glowing report.
Stay put
However, the player's agent Cesar Bottega has advised his charge to wait before making a move to Europe, having just made his senior debut with Gremio.
"Douglas still has to grow up," Bottega told
Terra Brazil.
"I wouldn't like him to be transferred to a European team yet because when you start to negotiate with teams from the European market like the Italian, English or Spanish, it is not always possible to make your wishes come true and that puts pressure on."
Douglas was linked with United for as much as £20million and he admitted that sort of money would be hard for Gremio to turn down.
"I think that it is too early to transfer to a team like Manchester United, but if they have offered 80 million Reais (Brazilian currency - £20million) to Gremio then that is important."
Despite playing down the interest, Bottega confirmed that both United and Real Madrid - represented by sporting director Predrag Mijatovic - had watched the teenager.
"The Europeans already knew Douglas as they have seen him play in the Brazilian youth national teams but they needed to see him in action for a senior side," added Bottega.
"Against Santos and Botafogo, Douglas showed that he can play among professional players but that doesn't mean that he has to be transferred to a European team now.
"We know about the interest of some teams and that the offers are important but I have the same opinion as that of his mother, in that it isn't the moment yet to be playing in Europe."
No offers
Gremio were quick to deny receiving any offers for Douglas.
"The story about Manchester and Real Madrid is pure speculation," said director of football Andre Krieger.
"If we want to win the Copa Libetadores, we need Douglas to stay."
However, Brazilian businessman Fernando Cesar - who claims to be an intermediary working with United - says their interest is genuine.
"I actually asked him [Stam] to see all the players, among them Douglas Costa - I said he was an interesting player and he could see that for himself, but the interest of Manchester in Douglas is a natural thing," he told the Brazilian media.
