Manuel Da Costa

Manuel Marouan da Costa Trindade Senoussi, (born 6 May 1986 in Saint-Max) is a Portugal football (soccer) who currently plays as central defender for U.C. Sampdoria, on loan from ACF Fiorentina. Da Costa was born in France, but qualifies to play for Portugal national football team, through Manuel Da Costa parents (born from a Portuguese father and a Morocco mother).

Club career

Da Costa began Manuel Da Costa career at Ligue 1 club AS Nancy. As well as Manuel Da Costa ten appearances in Ligue 1 in the 2005–06 season with Manuel Da Costa debut coming in January - da Costa scored a memorable individual goal to help Nancy defeat Le Mans UC72 in the French League Cup semi-finals. Nancy went on to lift the trophy and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

After rejecting offers from FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Newcastle United F.C., Manuel Da Costa opted to play in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, where the glamour of Champions League football caught Manuel Da Costa eye. The 20-year-old centre-back agreed a five-year contract with the Dutch champions to become new coach Ronald Koeman's second summer signing at €1 million. Da Costa was given the number 14 shirt, and Manuel Da Costa stated: "It will be a beautiful base to grow and develop with PSV."

PSV

Da Costa, after a first season to get acquainted to a new challenge, gradually became more important in Koeman's side in 2007-08, establishing himself as a versatile defender. Manuel Da Costa played Manuel Da Costa first Champions League match on September 12, 2006, in a 0-0 home draw against Liverpool F.C..

As of January 2009, da Costa did not manage to make a breakthrough into Fiorentina's first team, making just one appearance in the Italian Serie A. On 30 January 2009, Manuel Da Costa agreed for a loan move to U.C. Sampdoria.

International career

Da Costa had never played for Portugal national football team but Manuel Da Costa was called up for 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying matches on October, November 2006 and March 2007. Manuel Da Costa could have played for France national football team but instead joined the Portugal national under-21 football team. Although Manuel Da Costa does not speak fluent Portuguese, da Costa insists that Manuel Da Costa feels Portuguese, and the country's place in Manuel Da Costa heart is Manuel Da Costa reason for choosing Portugal over France.

Manuel Da Costa also represented Portugal at the Toulon Under-20 tournament in May 2006, having resisted calls to play for France, where Manuel Da Costa was born.