The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Diego Costa

  • Diego Costa Returns to Atletico Madrid

    Diego Costa Returns to Atletico Madrid

    On Thursday, a statement on Chelsea‘s website confirmed that the blues has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa.

    Part of the statement which was also posted on their social media reads;”Chelsea Football Club has today agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa.

    The transfer will be subject to the agreement of personal terms and a medical, according to the statement.

    Atletico Madrid also confirmed the agreement also in a statement that was posted online

    “The English club has authorised Diego Costa to travel to Madrid in the coming days to undergo a medical and agree a contract with our club,” the statement.

    Atletico can only officially register Costa on Jan. 1, when the Spanish transfer window re-opens and their FIFA transfer ban ends, but agreeing a deal means the focus can now turn to getting the 28-year-old back into peak physical condition in time for the new year.

    Chelsea included Costa in their submitted Premier League squad list last month in order to give the Spain international a theoretical path back into the first team, but he was omitted from their Champions League squad to avoid him becoming ineligible for Atletico in the competition, and there never appeared to be a realistic prospect that he would play under manager Antonio Conte again.

    Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico for £32m in the summer of 2014 and won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, finishing as the club’s top scorer in each of his three full seasons. But he never hid his dissatisfaction with life in England and pushed for a move back to Atletico on several occasions.

    He was dropped by Conte in January following a training-ground argument and a lucrative bid from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, and Chelsea proactively pursued an elite striker this summer — eventually signing Morata for the club-record £58m.

    Chelsea face Atletico in a Champions League group stage match in Madrid next week, though it is not yet clear whether Costa will be unveiled before then.

  • Chelsea treating me like a criminal, says Costa

    Chelsea treating me like a criminal, says Costa

    Diego Costa has accused Chelsea FC of treating him like a “criminal”, in a forthright newspaper interview which will deepen the breach with the Premier League club.

    The striker is seeking a move back to Spain in the transfer window.

    He has not played for Chelsea since the FA Cup final in May, following which he claims manager Antonio Conte sent him a text, telling him he was not in his plans for the new season.

    Costa was interviewed at home in Brazil on the same day Chelsea lost their opening Premier League game to Burnley and said he was refusing the club’s demand to return to play with the reserves.

    “They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,” he told the Daily Mail.

    “I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.”

    The Brazilian-born Spain international, who joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014, said if the club did not allow him to move before the transfer window he was prepared to see out his contract unpaid in Brazil.

    “I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’t pay me.

    “I’ll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I’d go back now and do as they say.

    “I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.”

    The situation is complicated by the fact that Atletico are currently banned from signing players in this window although a loan deal would be possible.

    Costa’s relationship with Conte appears to have broken down although the Brazilian accepts the Italian “is a good coach”.

    Last week Conte said there was “no news” on the Costa situation but earlier this summer said the “situation is closed.”

  • Diego Costa not ruling out Chelsea exit

    Diego Costa not ruling out Chelsea exit

     

    Chelsea striker Diego Costa has insisted that he will not “close the door” on a potential move away from Stamford Bridge after admitting that he had a row with manager Antonio Conte.

    The Spain international has revealed that he did “everything” he could to seal a return to Atletico Madrid last summer, but it never materialised.

    Conte, who became Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor last summer, is said to have been angry with Costa’s desire to leave, suggesting that the pair’s relationship did not get off to the best start.

    In January there were rumours of another bust-up when Costa’s head was reportedly turned by lucrative offers from the Chinese Super League.

    “I’ve done everything to come to Atletico but it did not happen,” Costa told Spanish radio station El Larguero. “I’ve done everything to return but I would not fight like that to return. When Atletico had to wait I did not wait.

    “The relationship with Conte did not start well because on arrival I told him that I wanted to go to Atletico. He got angry with me, almost didn’t looked at me – I would have done the same. When Atletico did not wait for me I went with the tail between my legs to talk to Conte.”

    During the interview, the 28-year-old joked that he has been learning how to speak Chinese, but he has hinted that he could move in the future.

    “Now I’m doing very well at Chelsea but do not rule out anything in the future,” he said. “In life everything can happen, do not close the door to anyone.”

    Costa has scored 18 goals in all competitions so far this season.

  • Cahill’s late goal snatches victory for Chelsea at Stoke

    Cahill’s late goal snatches victory for Chelsea at Stoke

    Gary Cahill made up for conceding a penalty kick by scoring a late winner as Chelsea moved closer to the English Premier League (EPL) title with victory at Stoke.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the England defender settled a heated encounter three minutes from time by sweeping home after Stoke failed to clear a Willian corner kick.

    Chelsea striker Diego Costa was involved in a running battle with Stoke’s defenders — being booked himself and involved in incidents that saw Bruno Martins Indi and Phil Bardsley cautioned.

    The hosts were reduced to 10 men late on when Bardsley was sent off for a second bookable offence.

    Willian had given Chelsea a first-half lead with an in-swinging free-kick from the left that caught out goalkeeper Lee Grant at his near post.

    Stoke defender Martins Indi then had a goal ruled out for a push by team-mate Saido Berahino on Cesar Azpilicueta.

    However, the home side drew level when Cahill was ruled to have pushed Jon Walters, who blasted in the resulting penalty kick.

    The visitors had nearly all the chances, with Marcos Alonso firing a free-kick against the bar and Pedro denied by a fine Grant save.

    Stoke boss Mark Hughes has spoken in the past of his admiration for Costa — a striker of undoubted talent who plays on the edge.

    Hughes, a fearsome centre-forward in his playing days, has suggested he sees a bit of his own playing style in Costa’s game.

    The Spain international certainly did his best to rough up Stoke’s defenders, and seemed in danger of getting sent off after he was booked with barely a quarter-of-an-hour gone.

    His tussles with Martins Indi were a feature of the game from the off, and referee Anthony Taylor had to speak to both players following an early off-the-ball tangle.

    Costa, though, drew the Stoke defenders into the battle — and then concentrated more on his football after half-time to keep himself out of trouble.

    He made sure not to retaliate when Bardsley clattered him shortly before the break, then forced Martins Indi into a challenge for which he was booked.

    There was to be no goal for Costa — chasing his 50th in the Premier League — but he still came out smiling as Stoke lost their discipline.(NAN)

  • New china Football rules knock off Costa deal

    New china Football rules knock off Costa deal

     

     

     

    New China football Association rules which  insists not more than three foreign players can be on the pitch at the same time and that only one can start a match has forced Chinese league side Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui to make a U-turn over Diego Costa deal.

    Shu Yuhui who revealed that he had planned an operation sweep that would have seen Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao

    join his club, said in view of the new development the club may not proceed with the Costa chase, noting that even if they were to continue he will not be available for move till June, three months into the new season, describing it as a long time.

    “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, “he regretted even as he lamented the effect of the new rules on the club’s original projection for the new season.

    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 offered £570,000-a-week pay packet

    Costa offered £570,000-a-week pay packet

     
    The Mirror claims that Diego Costa has been offered a staggering £570,000-a-week pay packet to jet over to the Far East. Costa might leave in the summer, reports The Mirror.
    Following news of the club’s interest, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte dropped Costa from his matchday squad for last weekend’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.

    Since then, the striker has been training alone at the club’s Cobham base and it is not yet known when or if he will be welcomed back into the fold.
    He is quoted by The Mirror as saying:

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

    “PSG told us [Edinson] 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 would 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.”

    However there are reports that the Chinese club may give up on their pursuit of Costa if they cannot clinch a deal this month.

  • Chelsea beat reigning champions Leicester to go 7 points clear

    Marcos Alonso scored twice as Chelsea beat Leicester on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of the English Premier League in spite of Diego Costa’s absence.

    The Blues were without their top scorer after a training ground dispute over his fitness, amid reports he has been offered a lucrative move to China.

    That saga did not affect them at the King Power Stadium however, with Eden Hazard setting up Alonso to fire home after only six minutes.

    The Spanish wing-back added his second early in the second half when his shot from the edge of the area was deflected in.

    Pedro made sure of the points with a deft header from Willian’s cross.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Leicester, lining up in a new-look 3-5-2 formation, struggled to find a way back into the game.

    Ahmed Musa had tested Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois before his side fell behind, but the defending champions did not manage another shot on target.

    Before kick-off, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had played down any row involving Costa, claiming he was not in his squad because of a back injury.

    Whatever the truth behind Costa’s absence, the Blues showed again that they can win without the Spain striker, who has scored 14 goals and provided five assists for them this season.

    Chelsea initially had to work harder for the points than they did when Costa was suspended in their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Dec. 26.

    NAN reports that it was the only other league game he has missed in 2016/2017.

    Again they used Hazard to lead the line rather than turn to £33 million summer signing Michy Batshuayi, who was left on the bench and still awaits his first league start.

    Alonso, rather than Hazard, will get the headlines on this occasion, but Chelsea’s dominant performance was further evidence it will be hard to dislodge them from top spot.

    This was Chelsea’s 12th clean sheet in 21 games and, even without Costa’s belligerent presence upfront, they remain difficult to break down and dangerous when they come forward.

    Conte’s side had seen their 13-game winning streak ended by Tottenham in their previous Premier League game, but that remains their only defeat since the end of September.

    Spurs’ emphatic win over West Brom earlier on Saturday had reduced the Blues’ lead to four points, but if Chelsea are feeling any pressure in the title race they did not show it here.

    Their form is becoming ominous for the chasing pack, and Liverpool — their nearest rivals before the weekend — can ill afford to lose any more ground.

    They face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

    Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri, named FIFA’s coach of the year this week, attempted to match Chelsea’s formation by playing with wing-backs of his own.

    But his experiment did not pay off as Albrighton and Ben Chilwell failed to make the same impact as their opposite numbers, Alonso and Victor Moses.

    To compound their woes, the Foxes also struggled to create chances.

    England striker Jamie Vardy was back from suspension to lead their attack, but he made little impression apart from playing one dangerous cross and did not manage a single shot.

    Leicester are still six points above the relegation zone in spite of this defeat.

    But, with Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Daniel Amarty away at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ranieri must find a better blend with the players still at his disposal.

    Chelsea host struggling Hull on Jan. 22, while Leicester travel to Southampton on the same day, hoping for their first away win of a disappointing domestic 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 secures Chelsea’s 9th straight league win

    Costa secures Chelsea’s 9th straight league win

    Chelsea moved back to the top of the Premier League on Sunday and made it nine successive league wins as Diego Costa scored the winner against West Brom.

    The Spain striker punished a hesitant Gareth McAuley in the 76th minute to rob the defender of possession and curl a brilliant left-foot shot past Ben Foster.

    West Brom had looked like earning a point after restricting the Blues to just one other shot on target, a 30-yard David Luiz free-kick.

    Chelsea also came close through an N’Golo Kante shot that deflected off Pedro and rolled just wide of the post.

    The Baggies had early chances through a Chris Brunt shot that fizzed wide and Salomon Rondon shooting across goal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chelsea have now moved three points ahead of Arsenal while West Brom stay ninth.(NAN)

  • Messi is world’s most expensive footballer

    Messi is world’s most expensive footballer

    The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has published the 120 most expensive footballers in the world based on their current market values.

    In order to qualify to make the list, the footballer must be plying his trade in one of the top five leagues in Europe – Spain, England, France, Germany and Italy, sl10.ng reports.

    Regrettably, no Nigerian player was mentioned by the Switzerland – based organization, though the likes of Mikel, Onazi, Ujah, Enyeama and Ikechukwu Uche ply their trade in the prestigious championships.

    The only consolation is that Bayern Munich’s Austria international, David Alaba, who has Nigerian blood flowing in his veins, is ranked in the 56th position while England midfielder Ross Barkley is among the players in the top 40.

    Five of Mikel’s teammates at Chelsea – Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Francesc Fàbregas, Oscar and Thibaut Courtois – were named in the top 20.

    As expected Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, is the most valuable player in the world followed by Real Madrid poster boy, Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Top 10 most expensive footballers:

    Lionel Messi (Barcelona): €220 million

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): €133 million

    Eden Hazard (Chelsea): €99 million

    Diego Costa (Chelsea): €84 million

    Paul Pogba (Juventus): €72 million

    Sergio Agüero (Manchester City): €65 million

    Raheem Sterling (Liverpool): €63 million

    Francesc Fàbregas (Chelsea): €62 million

    Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal): €61 million

    Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): €60 million