Atletico pin their hopes on Costa’s second coming
MADRID: Diego Costa is eager to begin his second spell at Atletico Madrid after spending the last three months confined to the club’s training ground, shackled by the club’s ban on registering new players, the striker said.
“I’ve waited a long time for this day, I’ve been working hard and training hard but there’s nothing else to do, I need to play, I’m tired of training,” Costa told a news conference yesterday.
Costa, who fired Atletico to a first league title in 18 years in 2014, agreed a return to the club from Chelsea in September for £57mil (RM313 mil), nearly double the price he left for more than three years ago.
He was officially presented alongside fellow Spain teammate Vitolo – who signed from Sevilla in July for €40mil (RM195 mil) – before an open training session at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, which local media said 20,000 supporters attended.
“I’m in much better shape than when I arrived, I’ve prepared well and worked hard and I’m ready to help the team and score goals,” Costa said.
Atletico’s ban on registering new players due to the illegal transfer of minors expires today, meaning Costa could make his debut against Lleida Esportiu in the Spanish King’s Cup on Wednesday, with his first league appearance set for Saturday at home to Getafe.
Atletico are second in the league but Costa’s return cannot come soon enough for Diego Simeone’s side who are nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona and had their confidence rocked by elimination from the Champions League group stage.
Their defence is as resolute as ever, conceding just eight goals in 17 games, but they have had serious difficulties creating and converting chances, scoring fewer goals (25) than the other teams in the top four.
It may not take the 29-year-old Costa long to catch up with his new team mates. Antoine Griezmann is Atletico’s leading marksman with five league goals but Costa will have to prove his fitness as his last competitive game was for Spain in a World Cup qualifier against Macedonia on June 11.