Chelsea announced the arrival of Diego Costa in the summer of 2014. The Brazilian-born striker who chose to represent Spain internationally was coming to London with a reputation, having been involved in numerous fights and confrontations with opponents during his time with Atletico Madrid. His first goal for the club came within 17 minutes of donning Chelsea colours, almost emblematic of the player himself- scrappy, impatient and in your face.
The 28-year-old’s spell with The Blues has only gone on to enhance Costa’s reputation as one of the leading marksmen in the world; his three-year spell yielding two Premier League titles and a League Cup. Prima facie it would appear odd that Antonio Conte is intent on getting rid of the player in an increasingly difficult transfer market, but anyone aware of how the Italian functions wouldn’t have been very surprised.
“I always talk about education and respect. I give this, but I demand this, the Italian said in an interview.
“If someone hasn’t the good attitude during the training session or the good behaviour, in different circumstances, then I would prefer to kill him.”
Diego Costa lives on the edge. Always getting entangled in fights and controversies, at a glance the player may come across as hot-headed and unstable, but his booking record relays a very different story. For a confrontational player like the Spain international, Costa has accumulated a total of zero red cards during his 3-year long spell at Chelsea and just one during his time at Madrid. The 28-year-old straddles the line between acceptable and outrageous and thrives on his ability to push his luck just about as much as he can.
Costa was one of the most crucial cogs in the Chelsea setup last season; his 20 goals; worth their weight in gold, contributing heavily in the title win. But it was his attitude that riled Conte up provoking the now infamous text exchange fiasco that was made public by the Brazilian-born striker. As a result, Granovskaia and the likes have to move mountains to drive up the player’s valuation in negotiations with Atletico Madrid.
The forward got off to a very bad start with Conte, having made it apparent to the Italian that he desperately wants to return to Madrid to resume playing for his former club. For whatever reason, the transfer didn’t go through and all seemed well between the two. The last nail in the coffin was provided by the player himself with his disruptive ways during the January transfer window after he was subject to a huge bid from Chinese club Tianjin. His row with the fitness coach, Carlos Lalin didn’t help matters.
Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban has further complicated the process. Chelsea want to conclude the signing in this window and the Madrid outfit can register the player come January when their transfer ban would be lifted.
What remains to be seen is where Costa ends up in this 6-month period before he can play for Atletico again. He can sit out the duration in a scenario quite akin to the Barcelona- Arda Turan arrangement, where the player trained with the team till he could be officially registered as a Barcelona player.
Chelsea have already excused the forward from attending Chelsea’s preseason training so as to remove any possibility of an awkward situation as negotiations go on between the club and Atletico Madrid. Reports are emerging that the striker is not too keen on leaving The Blues and could consider staying until January to help out the club. But Antonio Conte is not one for short-term measures and has made it clear that the striker is not what Chelsea needs at the moment.
Turkish side Besiktas are reportedly interested in the striker.
“Then there is Diego Costa, I want him but it will not be easy to pull off,” Gunes told reporters at Besiktas’ Nevzat Demir training ground.
“If Diego is open to coming I would not say no.
“I could not refuse such a striker.”
Whether the club would be open to a 6-month loan move is unclear at the moment.
