On Tuesday Chelsea confirmed the capture of Spanish international Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.
The Blues met Costa’s release clause over two weeks ago after Spain’s exit from the World Cup. However with personal terms still to be agreed, the deal has only just been confirmed by the Premier League side with Costa agreeing a five-year deal.
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Costa, 25, spearheaded Atletico’s dramatic rise to the top of European soccer over the past two seasons, as the Brazilian-born striker banged in goals for fun in the UEFA Champions League and Spanish top-flight.
With Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea finishing third in the PL last season, they badly lacked firepower at crucial times of the campaign as strikers Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba and Fernando Torres only scored 19 league goals between them.
Speaking to Chelsea’s website, Costa had the following to say.
Costa scored 64 goals in 134 appearances for Atletico after two spells with the club which also included loan spells away from the Vicente Calderon. Last season was by far his most prolific as he bagged 35 goals in 46 appearances. He led Atletico to their first La Liga title in 18 years and the Champions League final where they lost to crosstown rivals Real Madrid.
Chelsea know all about Costa, as he scored and was a constant menace as the Spaniards dumped Chelsea out of the UCL in the semifinals last season thanks to a 3-1 second leg win at Stamford Bridge. Costa bullied Chelsea’s central defenders John Terry and Gary Cahill, that doesn’t happen often, and his movement in and around the box was so sharp. He can score all kinds of goals, works hard for the team, can hold the ball up under pressure and has a strong desire to win.
Costa ticks all the boxes.
However he did have a poor World Cup with Spain, as he started the first two games and looked a shadow of his usual self. Costa was carrying a persistent hamstring injury which limited his playing time at the end of the 2013-14 season for Atletico and meant he started but played just eight minutes in the Champions League final. You could put his bad displays with Spain down to injury, fatigue and the team not performing well. You could also put it down to the fact that he was public enemy No. 1 in Brazil after he snubbed the country of his birth to instead represent Spain at the international level.
It was a summer to forget, but Costa has now started a new journey.
When the Premier League season kicks off on August 16, Chelsea will have one of the hottest marksmen in world soccer wearing the famous blue jersey. Many are already predicting he will follow in the footsteps of Torres and prove to be a waste of money, but let’s wait and see.
For now, Diego Costa is Chelsea’s main man.