Diego Costa (Part 2)

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30 Mar 2024

Diego Costa (Part 2)

Despite his poor reputation for his behavior, Diego Costa attracted interest from several clubs, including Salamanca, Gimnàstic de Tarragona, and Málaga, following his loan spell at Celta de Vigo. However, Atlético Madrid's director Jesús García Pitarch ruled out any potential move to Málaga, expressing concerns about how Costa would conduct himself in the city.
After accompanying Atlético on a pre-season tour of Mexico, Costa joined Albacete on loan on 22 August 2008. His contract included a clause stipulating a reduced fee based on the number of games he played. Initially, Costa expressed dissatisfaction with his new team, citing concerns about the quality of his teammates and the lack of a beach in the city. However, he quickly made an impact on the pitch, scoring a late winner in only his second game for Albacete against Sevilla's reserves.

During his time at Albacete, Costa's behavior remained problematic. He was involved in altercations both on and off the pitch, including being sent off in a match against Tenerife and subsequently insulting the referee and confronting his opponents. Additionally, he engaged in practical jokes at the expense of his teammates and employers, earning him a less-than-flattering nickname.
Despite his antics, Costa played a pivotal role in helping Albacete avoid relegation. Notably, he provided two assists in a crucial 3–0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, although he also missed a penalty in that match. Despite his contributions on the field, Costa's behavior continued to cause headaches for the club's management and staff.

In the summer of 2009, Diego Costa attracted interest from Barcelona for their reserve team, a move that Atlético Madrid rejected, asserting that he remained a part of their plans. However, Costa, frustrated by his lack of opportunities at Atlético, engaged in disputes with the management and sought to negotiate a move to Brazil's Esporte Clube Vitória.
On 8 July 2009, Costa was transferred to Real Valladolid as part of a deal that involved goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo moving in the opposite direction. The transfer included a €1 million buy-back option that Atlético could activate at the end of the season. Although Atlético's director Jesús García Pitarch acknowledged that there was a verbal agreement for Costa to return to Atlético after the season, the deal was structured to appear permanent to instill a greater sense of commitment from Costa to his new club.

At Real Valladolid, Costa faced competition from fellow new signings Alberto Bueno and Manucho, signed from Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively. Despite a promising start with six goals in his first 12 games, Costa's form dipped, and he only managed to score once in the following five-and-a-half months. Real Valladolid's season ended in relegation from La Liga, with Costa receiving a red card in a match against Espanyol for a stamp on Dídac Vilà.

Diego Costa returned to Atlético Madrid, initially serving as a backup to Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán. Atlético also paid an undisclosed sum to Braga to acquire all the residual 30% economic rights of Costa. He made his presence felt by scoring the only goal in a match against Real Zaragoza on 26 September, filling in for the injured Agüero. Costa's breakthrough came on 3 April of the following year when he scored a hat-trick in a 3–2 victory against Osasuna, solidifying his place in the starting lineup after manager Quique Sánchez Flores demoted Forlán.

During Atlético's pre-season, Costa suffered a serious knee injury, which sidelined him for most of the season. Despite having agreed to transfer to Turkish club Beşiktaş, the injury prevented him from passing a medical examination. On 23 January 2012, Costa was loaned to fellow La Liga club Rayo Vallecano until June. He made an immediate impact by scoring four goals in his first three appearances, eventually finishing his loan spell with 10 goals from 16 games.
Diego Costa was again an unused substitute as Atlético won the UEFA Super Cup on 1 September 2012. In December of that year, he was involved in several on-field altercations in two separate matches. He avoided disciplinary action after a confrontation with Sergio Ramos in a local derby loss against Real Madrid, but was subsequently sent off in a UEFA Europa League match against Viktoria Plzeň for headbutting an opponent, resulting in a four-match ban by UEFA. Despite these incidents, coach Diego Simeone continued to start him, and Costa responded by scoring crucial goals in league and cup matches.

In the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Sevilla, Costa further displayed his prowess by scoring three goals in two matches. He scored twice in the first leg and provided a goal and an assist in the second leg, which ended in a draw. Costa also scored Atlético's equalizing goal in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on 17 May 2013, contributing to Atlético's victory and securing his position as the tournament's top scorer.
In August 2013, Diego Costa was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, with reports suggesting that the English club had matched his release clause of €25 million and offered him a significant increase in salary. However, Costa chose to stay at Atlético Madrid and renewed his contract until 2018, with his wages doubling in the process. Shortly after signing his new contract, Costa showcased his goal-scoring prowess by scoring a brace in Atlético's 3–1 victory over Sevilla on 19 August.

Throughout the season, Costa continued to impress with his goal-scoring exploits. On 24 September, he scored both goals in a 2–1 win against Osasuna, helping Atlético maintain their position at the top of the league table. In the Madrid derby, Costa scored the only goal of the game, securing another victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. His outstanding performances earned him the inaugural La Liga Player of the Month award for September 2013.
By his 25th birthday on 7 October, Costa had already scored ten goals in eight league matches, matching his tally from the previous season. He played a crucial role in Atlético's record-breaking start to the season, with the team winning all of their matches. One of his standout goals during this period was an overhead volley against Getafe on 23 November 2013, which was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.

In the UEFA Champions League, Costa made a significant impact, scoring two goals on his debut against Austria Wien and adding another crucial goal in the knockout stages against Milan. He played a pivotal role in Atlético's journey to the final, including scoring a penalty in the semi-final against Chelsea, which helped the team advance to the final for the first time in 40 years.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury towards the end of the league season, Costa finished as the third-highest scorer in La Liga with 27 goals as Atlético secured their first league title since 1996. He also played in the Champions League final against Real Madrid but was forced to leave the pitch after just eight minutes due to injury. Despite his early substitution, Costa's contributions throughout the season were highly valued, and he was nominated for the league's Best Forward at the LFP Awards.