Following on from a monstrous start to the season, in a year where he received call-ups to both the Brazilian and Spanish national teams, Diego Costa is understandably the name on many people’s lips this January transfer window. It’s no secret that Arsenal – among many others – are searching for a centre-forward that can really take them to the next level, and the Atlético Madrid frontman fits the bill with 23 goals in as many games so far in 2013/14.
Costa has just about everything you could want in a striker. Tall, strong and lightning fast, he is also willing to run himself into the ground for the good of the team, and, much like another one-time target Luis Suárez, will do just about anything it takes to win. His journey to becoming one of Europe’s most wanted has been far from straightforward though, and is proof that with hard work and determination, just about any player can make it to the top.
Raised on the east coast of Brazil, Costa’s football education came almost exclusively on the streets. His talent was obvious from an early age, but he had admittedly never even played on grass until his mid-teens or even considered pursuing a professional career, instead working in his father’s hardware shop in São Paulo. At the age of 16 he joined local side Barcelona EP as a playmaker, impressing enough to earn a move to Europe a year later as super agent Jorge Mendes snapped him up.
He began in Portugal, enjoying a brief spell at SC Braga before making the move to Atlético Madrid in January 2007, completely unknown to fans and dismissed as yet another bizarre South American import from infamous sporting director Jesús García-Pitarch. After a series of loan moves to lower league sides, he was sold to Real Valladolid in the summer of 2009 for a minimal fee, not expected ever to be seen again at the capital club.
Valladolid were relegated from La Liga, but Costa was one of few shining lights in his debut season in the top flight, hitting 8 goals for a team severely lacking in urgency and motivation. Desperate to find low price back-up to hitmen Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán, Atlético excercised a €1m clause to bring Costa back to the club at the end of the campaign, some three and a half years after first signing him.
Upon his return, he didn’t particularly impress but did show the occasional sign of promise, including a superb hat-trick away at Osasuna in a game both the two main strikers missed out on. What was really letting him down was his professionalism, coming back for pre-season in 2010 ‘out of shape’ according to club doctors, and in 2011 almost a week late, with nobody able to contact him for 4 days.
It looked for all the world that he would be on his way out for a second time, but on the same day that Agüero was sold to Manchester City, Costa rupturing his ACL during training and was ruled out for 8 months. Such an injury has ended the careers of some, but for 23 year-old from Lagarto, it acted as the wake up call he needed to get his back on track.
Costa worked tirelessly during his rehabilitation process to make a comeback and did so some 8 weeks ahead of scheule, loaned once more to Rayo Vallecano for the rest of the season as Atlético had filled their quota of non-EU players. At Rayo he looked a different player, linking up with Michu in attack and hitting a superb 10 in 16 to keep them in the division.
Diego Simeone, now in charge at his parent club, was impressed by his change in attitude and brought him back yet again, even sanctioning the transfer of highly-rated compatriot Eduardo Salvio to Benfica to make room. Since then, neither he or Costa have looked back.
No longer the gangly, long-legged figure often seen chasing lost causes and losing his temper prior to his injury, we now see a forward who strikes fear into the heart of even the meanest defences. Twice last year he was the decisive figure in the Bernabéu as Atlético defeated Real Madrid for the first time this millenium, hitting 8 goals in their Copa del Rey triumph and 36 across the calendar year.
Radamel Falcao still stole all the plaudits, but Costa was arguably the Rojiblancos best performer in a wide position as they enjoyed their best season since the mid-90’s. Since the Colombian’s departure in the summer, he has become the main man both at the club and in Spain, top of the La Liga scoring charts heading into the new year and set to lead the line for La Roja in next summer’s World Cup. He recently pledged his alliegiance to the nation that in his words “has provided everything”, shunning his native Brazil.
Off the pitch he leads a quiet life compared to that of a few years ago, married with a young daughter and said to be very humble. His self-confessed tendency to provoke whilst on the pitch still exists, and in truth is a large part of what makes him such a tough opponent, but he has definitely matured and looks to have learned where the limit is. Twice in the past he has been sent off for lashing out, but so far has only 3 yellow cards to his name this season.
I can think of very few stikers as well rounded as Costa in the modern game, and not one who would appear to be any more attainable in the transfer market. Liverpool tried and failed back in the summer despite offering to triple his salary, but you would think interest will have stepped up to a massive degree since then given his current form.
Aside from his temperament, aspects such as his finishing were brought into question last year, but he has proven that this is no longer a concern and looks genuinely ready to join the likes of Ibrahimovic, Suárez and Lewandowski on Europe’s top table of centre-forwards.
A January transfer is almost certainly out of the question, but with the World Cup coming up and his value set to skyrocket, potential suitors will want to move fast. Costa signed a new contract at Atlético back in August with a €38m buy-out clause inserted, and although that figure is only legally binding to teams in Spain, it does give an indication of how the club value him. Still, regardless of the price, he would be a major asset to any team.
