In a recent column with BBC, former Premier League defender Micah Richards urged his former club Manchester City to recruit Diego Costa, who is a free agent after being released by Atletico Madrid earlier this month. Richards wrote,
“Manchester City are already on a ridiculously good run of form but if they signed Diego Costa now, he would win them the Premier League – I am sure of it.”
Costa’s Injury-Plagued Season At The Spanish Capital
Costa experienced an injury-plagued season at the Wanda Metropolitano as he missed several matches due to a muscle problem and later, a leg injury. The Brazilian striker made seven appearances for the Spanish outfit this term, netting two goals in the process across multiple competitions.
Out of those seven matches, he made only two appearances as a first-team starter, which explains why he was averaging just 0.7 shots and 0.6 key passes per game in this La Liga campaign. However, Costa distributed the ball relatively well after completing 77.8% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The 32-year-old is currently entering the last legs of his football career, so he might fancy a return to the Premier League in search of more success at the highest level. Man City can also benefit from adding more firepower up top by signing a striker of Costa’s calibre as Gabriel Jesus’ form has been inconsistent while Sergio Aguero has struggled with injuries this season.
What Does The Striker Offer On The Pitch?
Standing at 1.86m, Costa has got the strength and aggression to hold the ball up for his team and can easily brush off his marker to win a few important headers for his team. When he is playing with confidence on the pitch, he can be a devastating presence inside the opposition penalty box as he knows how to find the back of the net regularly at the top level.
The veteran player can get himself into some promising areas in the final third and packs a lot of power with his shot attempts. However, father time is catching up with him, so there are some serious concerns over his long-term fitness as he has been ravaged by injuries recently.
Should Guardiola Listen To Richards’ Advice By Moving In For Costa?
Right now, Pep Guardiola should focus on adding a new forward to ease the mounting pressure on Jesus, who has often struggled to score goals this season. The likes of Ferran Torres, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling have all done well to fill in as a makeshift centre-forward at times this season.
However, Man City would be better of signing an experienced striker like Costa, who would also serve as a good option for them as a late-game substitute when Aguero is fit. All in all, Guardiola should consider listening to Richards’ advice by offering the Brazilian veteran a short-term contract to ply his trade at the Etihad Stadium this season.
