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Chelsea and the Premier League waved goodbye to Diego Costa today, as the Spain international striker finally sealed his protracted move back to Atletico Madrid.
Regardless of how the Brazilian born front-man is perceived by the majority of football fans, it’s hard to class his time at Stamford Bridge as anything but a massive success.
In Costa’s three seasons in the Premier League; he won two titles, broke the 20 goal barrier twice, and was voted onto the PFA team of the year in 2014/2015.
In total the talented goal-scorer netted 54 times in 104 appearances for The Blues, and when you consider – depending what reports you read – that Chelsea have made anything between a £20 – £25 million profit on the £32 million fee they paid Atletico for Costa in 2014 , it looks like a great-value deal for the London club.
Purely looking at these stats however do not give a accurate representation of the impact the Brazilian had in England. His histrionics made any game he was involved in a must watch; biting, spitting, diving and just a generally never before seen level of shithousery became the norm whenever Costa crossed the white line.
All of the above of course made the talented-striker a kind of pantomime villian with fans, pundits and opposition teams. Chelsea fans of course idolised him and in all honesty most supporters and players of other teams – as much as they loathed his antics – wouldn’t have thought twice about having a player like him in their own colours.
Alvaro Morata has been signed to replace The Blues top-scorer from last season, and although the ex-Real Madrid man is a fine player – expecting him to replicate what his international team-mate brought to Chelsea’s game is impossible.
Quite simply there is no other striker in world football who has the ability to pin back an opposition defence through raw aggression and competitive spirit as Costa does. Operating in the lone-striker role is one of the hardest jobs in football, but it’s something Althetico’s new signing relishes.
What Costa gave Chelsea was a focal point – a spearhead in attack – that gave Chelsea’s other forward players something to play off. His strength and athleticism mean that even if his team is under intense pressure he has the ability to turn even the most aimless of clearances into a springboard for attack.
Not since the days of another ex-Chelsea player, Didier Drogba has the Premier League seen a front-man with the type of ability in terms of holding up the ball and bringing team-mates into play that Costa displayed week in week out.
Despite his problems with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and other members of the club’s hierarchy – it is notable that Costa remains a popular figure within the Stamford Bridge dressing room. With most of the enigmatic Spain international’s former team-mates viewing him as something of a loveable rogue due to his legendary pranks around the Cobham training facility.
Even though he is held in great affection by his former colleagues, most fully understand why Conte decided that he wanted rid of the striker. Costa is undoubtedly high-maintenance and has been angling for a move back to Athletico for the last three transfer windows. With the relationship between player and manager, said to have completely broken down after their notorious training-ground bust up in January.
To say that most observers will miss Costa would be wide of the mark, but there is no denying that the Premier League has lost one of its most controversial characters. Once he resumes playing in La Liga this coming January, there is no doubt he will soon immerse himself in plenty of news-worthy antics, which we may even look at with a tinge of nostalgia.
Good luck Diego – you were truly, one of a kind.
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