AC Chievo Verona will face Casatese Merate in Sunday’s Serie D Group B play-off final, a match that could propel the historic club back toward professional football—and not just for sporting reasons. The club, once a Serie A stalwart, now carries the dreams of its rebuilt team, anchored by two of football’s most recognizable names: Mario Balotelli and Douglas Costa.
The club’s resurrection began in 2021 when Sergio Pellissier, Chievo’s all-time top scorer, founded Clivense and steered it to Serie D by 2023. In May 2024, Clivense secured the rights to the Chievo Verona name, rebranding and relaunching the club under president Pietro Laterza. Laterza, who also owns Dubai’s Al-Ittifaq—where Balotelli currently plays—has overseen a rapid transformation, investing in infrastructure and talent to rebuild a once-proud institution.
Key Players
- ⚽ Douglas Costa — Former Brazil, Bayern Munich, Juventus winger; 24 trophies, 31 Brazil caps
- 🔥 Mario Balotelli — Influential figure behind Costa’s move; former Italy striker
- ⚖️ Pietro Laterza — President, owner of Al-Ittifaq, driving investment
- 🏆 Sergio Pellissier — Founder of Clivense, honorary president, led the rebrand
Costa’s arrival in January was serendipitous. Stranded in Dubai after a legal dispute stalled his move to a South American club, he received an unexpected call from Balotelli, who invited him to train with Al-Ittifaq. When a foreign-player spot opened, Costa seized the opportunity—returning to Italy, where he had plied his trade for Juventus. “I was about to sign for a South American club,” Costa told reporters, “but Mario told me he couldn’t meet up because he was heading to Dubai. Then he asked if I’d consider joining him there.”
| Milestone | Year | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Chievo promoted to Serie A | 2001 | Only club to climb from bottom tier to top flight |
| Relegated from Serie A | 2019 | Ended 17 of 18 seasons in top flight |
| Bankruptcy declared | 2021 | Forced exit from professional leagues |
| Chievo Verona rebranded | 2024 | Rebirth under Clivense ownership |
Since joining, Costa has scored crucial goals, including one in the semi-final against AC Milan’s under-23 side. Though his career has been marked by injuries and off-field controversies—including a terminated contract with Sydney FC in 2025 over a child maintenance dispute in Brazil—he has embraced this new chapter. “Football in Serie A and Serie D is still football,” he said. “The dynamics are similar. At Bayern, I was the one learning. Now, I’m the one teaching.”
💡 Pro Tip
Clubs rebuilding from lower divisions should prioritize local academy development alongside marquee signings—Chievo’s 300-plus youth players signal long-term strategy over short-term glamour.
Balotelli’s role extends beyond his on-field influence. His connection to Costa and Laterza’s network has been pivotal in securing resources and attention. Laterza, whose Dubai club hosts Balotelli, sees the striker as a bridge between ambition and execution. “Young players need inspiration,” Laterza said. “Mario and Douglas give them a vision of what’s possible—not just in football, but in life.”
The club’s academy now boasts over 300 children, a deliberate investment to cultivate talent from the ground up. While the immediate goal is promotion via the play-offs, the broader mission is to restore Chievo to its former glory—one match, one goal, and one lesson at a time.
📋 By The Numbers
- 35 — Douglas Costa’s age; now playing in Serie D after careers at Bayern, Juventus, and Brazil
- 17 — Consecutive Serie A seasons Chievo spent in top flight before relegation in 2019
- 24 — Trophies in Costa’s career, including three Serie A titles with Juventus
- 300+ — Youth players enrolled in Chievo’s new academy under Laterza’s leadership
For Costa, the journey is about more than trophies. “Football is joy for me,” he said. “When the ball is at my feet, I’m happy. I still have a young mentality. I don’t want to grow old.” His presence, and Balotelli’s shadow over the project, has turned Chievo’s play-off push into more than a sporting story—it’s a narrative of redemption, legacy, and the unyielding pull of Italy’s football heartland.
