The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Costa

  • Portugal’s PM Costa resigns over corruption investigation

    Portugal’s PM Costa resigns over corruption investigation

    Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday amid an investigation into alleged irregularities committed by his majority Socialist administration in handling lithium mining and hydrogen projects in the country.

    Costa announced the decision in a televised statement after meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He said he conscience was clear, but he would not stand as candidate for premiership again.

    Prosecutors earlier on Tuesday named Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba as a formal suspect and detained Costa’s chief of staff. The opposition has demanded that the government step down with immediate effect.

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    Costa he was “fully available to cooperate” with the justice system after prosecutors said he was also the target of an investigation.

    “The dignity of the functions of prime minister is not compatible with any suspicion about his integrity, his good conduct and even less with the suspicion of the practice of any criminal act,” Costa told reporters.

    REUTERS

  • Tianjin forced to scrap moves for Costa, Benzema, Cavani and Falcao

    Tianjin forced to scrap moves for Costa, Benzema, Cavani and Falcao

    Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui confirmed the cashed-up Chinese Super League outfit had plans to sign Diego Costa, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao until China’s Football Association made changes to the limit of foreigners.

    Having already lured Belgium international Axel Witsel to the CSL, Tianjin – coached by former Real Madrid and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro – have been linked with further moves for Chelsea’s Costa and Co.

    And Shu revealed Tianjin had been in talks with Costa, Real Madrid striker Benzema, Paris Saint-Germain’s Cavani and Monaco hitman Falcao before the Chinese Football Association announced new rules regarding foreign players, with teams in the CSL forced to name only three of their imports in starting XIs from this season.

    “Our club had a massive investment plan for the new season but it was tightened up by the new rules,” Shu told Tianjin Sports Channel.

    “We need an out-and-out striker so we made a bid for Benzema. We also made an attempt for Falcao.

    “As a matter of fact, the club had even prepared the contracts for Falcao and [Benfica striker] Raul Jimenez. We have already reached agreement with them on wages and bonus. The pair was expected to sign the contracts, but the new rules forced us to give up on them.”

    Delving deeper into Tianjin’s transfer plans, Shu revealed meetings with Jorge Mendes, whose clients include Cristiano Ronaldo among others.

    “I made an appointment with Mendes and he came to my hometown to visit me. At that time, we were interested in signing Costa,” he added.

    “PSG have told us Cavani would only be allowed to leave in June, even though the player himself was willing to join us. The same can be said for Costa because Chelsea also only let him leave in June. However, the new season of CSL will almost reach the halfway stage in June, we can’t wait so long.”

    While the arrivals of Costa and Co. appear unlikely, Fiorentina star Nikola Kalinic is nearing a move to Haihe Educational Football Stadium in Tianjin.

    “We are currently discussing whether to hold onto [former Brazil international] Luis Fabiano,” Shu said. “But Cannavaro told us he preferred Kalinic who would perfectly fit into the team’s style of play.”

    Tianjin are set to play in China’s top flight in 2017 after Cannavaro guided the club to promotion last season.

  • Costa says he wanted to leave Chelsea in summer

    Costa says he wanted to leave Chelsea in summer

    Chelsea FC striker Diego Costa says he had wanted to leave the English Premier League club last summer.

    Costa had joined the Blues for £32 million (about N16 billion) in 2014, and was understood to be close to a return to former club Atletico Madrid after a difficult 2015-16 campaign.

    The Spain international has since scored 14 Premier League goals, as Chelsea have now taken an eight-point lead courtesy of 13 successive victories.

    “Did I want to go? Yes, yes, I was about to leave. But not because of Chelsea,” said the 28-year-old.

    “There was one thing I wanted to change for family reasons but it wasn’t to be, and I continue to be happy here.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Costa scored 20 goals in his first season in England, as Chelsea won the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho.

    But he had netted only four more by the time Mourinho was sacked in December 2015, finishing the season with 12 before being heavily linked with a move.

    Brazil-born Costa says he has also made a conscious effort to curb his aggressive nature on the pitch.

    “I knew I had to improve that aspect, because here in the Premier League there is no mercy,” he said.

    “A lot of the time it seemed [referees] were against me. If they’re not going to change, I had to change.”

    NAN reports that Chelsea will return to action against London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.(NAN)

  • COSTA KEEPS CONTE’S CHELSEA CHUGGING ON TOP

    COSTA KEEPS CONTE’S CHELSEA CHUGGING ON TOP

    …as The Blues equal club record 11 consecutive EPL wins

    CHELSEA have equalled a club record as they made it 11 Premier League wins on the spin with the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday.

    Diego Costa was the hero as he scored his 50th goal for the club to edge the Blues past Alan Pardew’s side at Selhurst Park.

    The result moves the visitors an impressive nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with Arsenal in action against Manchester City today  before Liverpool travel to Everton on Monday.

    Antonio Conte’s men were already guaranteed to be top of the pile at Christmas and the result over Palace only moves to strengthen their grip on top spot in the table. And the win makes it an incredible 11 in a row in England’s top-flight, only the second time the Blues have managed that in their entire history.

    The run has seen Chelsea pick up impressive victories against the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, as well as the away win at Manchester City on December 3.

    This is also the only time in a single season that the Blues have won 11 matches in a row, with their last defeat in the league coming against Arsenal back in September.

    Chelsea previously picked up 11 wins on the bounce back in 2009, spanning over two seasons before then-manager Carlo Ancelotti finally suffered defeat to Wigan Athletic.

  • Costa relishing Torres competition

    Diego Costa is looking forward to challenging Fernando Torres for a starting role at Chelsea, while he believes he will make an immediate impact in the Premier League.

    Costa, 25, is set to join the Blues for 32 million pounds after a deal was agreed with Atletico Madrid earlier this month. The Spain international was reportedly due to fly to London on Tuesday to complete the transfer.

    Costa has been touted as a replacement for Torres, but the striker insists he will be competing with his international teammate for a spot in Jose Mourinho’s team.

    “It’s always good to have competition. The important thing for a big club is having great players,” Costa told GloboEsporte.com.

    “Torres is a great player. I know I will fight hard to be among the starters and I like it. So I think it will be a clean and healthy competition.”

    Costa, who opted to play for Spain rather than his native Brazil, failed to make an impact at the World Cup following an impressive season with Atletico. His 36 goals helped fire the club to the Liga title as well as the Champions League final.

    Costa has been on holiday for the past three weeks following Spain’s group-stage exit from the competition in Brazil, but he is confident of hitting the ground running at Chelsea.

    “I am hopeful for what is happening in my life and I will adapt well,” he said. “I have wanted to play in the Premier League for a long time and I think it will be a very good and fast adaptation.

    “I do not think there will be many changes to the style of play [between Atletico and Chelsea]. Chelsea are a great team and the Premier League is good to play in.”

  • Chelsea agrees to sign Costa

    Chelsea agrees to sign Costa

    Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign striker Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid.

    The Spain international had been frequently linked with a move to Stamford Bridge following an impressive campaign with the Liga champions.

    And Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that they had met the buy-out clause for the 25-year-old.

    “Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa, with Chelsea meeting the buy-out clause for the Spanish international,” read a statement on the Premier League club’s website.

    Costa, a member of the Spain squad who crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in the group stages, scored 36 goals for Atletico last season, helping the club to domestic glory and the final of the UEFA Champions League.

    He becomes the second high-profile signing of the close-season from La Liga for Jose Mourinho, who also acted quickly to bring in Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.

    Costa will be tasked with helping to improve a Chelsea frontline that was often bemoaned by Mourinho during his first season back at the club.

    Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba all faced criticism from Mourinho last term – with the Portuguese prefering to name Andre Schurrle as a central striker at times.