Diego Costa - The soul of Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa

If there is one thing which is the cream of the crop in football crazy Spain, it’s Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa. He has been a revelation ever since returning to the Vincente Calderon after a loan spell in Rayo Vallecano. He is in fine goalscoring form, with 19 goals this season, second only to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo who leads the charts with 20. Having proved himself as an able substitute to Radamel Falcao, who joined AS Monaco this past summer window, Costa has found himself surrounded with controversy and fame after turning his back on the Brazilian national team to join and represent the Spanish national team while also being the subject of undeterred interest from many EPL clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United vying for his signature. Borussia Dortmund also find him to be the perfect replacement to contract rebel Robert Lewandowski, who will be joining Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Diego Costa was an unknown figure in the football fraternity until this season. He spent the last season on loan at Rayo Vallecano, where he performed well. The reason for him being sent on loan was for him to get some much needed minutes to complete his recovery from a knee injury. It also gave some time for Atletico coach Diego Simeone to find out what he would expect and do with an ‘undisciplined’ player in the future. It would be true, considering his career tally of 76 yellow cards and 8 red cards which is considerably unbecoming and unexpected from a forward.

Simeone was prepared to offload Costa this season along with Falcao, but his 10 goals and four assists in 10 games for Vallecano forced Simeone to make a U-turn and ensure his return to the Calderon. During his spell with Atletico Madrid, he has been loaned out three times and was almost sold to Real Valladolid. His performance in the 2012-13 season was excellent with the Brazilian netting 18 goals and 14 assists in 39 league and Spanish Cup games. In return, Simeone overlooked his indiscipline which included various tantrums and two on-field altercations in two different competitions in the end of 2012 which earned him a 4-match European ban.

So far in the current season, Costa has managed to control his attitude towards fellow players, by letting his goals doing the talking and accumulating only 5 yellow cards. Simeone has pushed him hard in training and has successfully ensured that the Brazilian goes on to become the most prolific goal scorers this season in all competitions. He has scored 4 goals in Europe this season, and Atleti fans really don’t need a reason to worry about their clash against AC Milan, considering Costa’s influence in the game and the poor form of the San Siro side this season.

As amazing his goal scoring feats may be, Costa has found himself engulfed in controversy when he made his intentions public that he would want to play for the Spanish national team, rather than for his home country Brazil (for which he has made 2 appearances so far). He attained Spanish nationality this past summer, which sent the Royal Spanish Football Federation executives scurrying to lure him into wearing the famous red jersey over the yellow.

In an interview with his club’s official TV stream, Costa said – “I hope people understand and respect my decision because it has been very difficult. It was very difficult to choose between the country where you were born and the country that has given you everything. I looked at everything and saw that it was right and best to play for Spain because this is where I have done everything.”

“All that I have in my life was given to me by this country. I have a special affection. Here I feel very appreciated for all that I do, and I feel the love of the people. I hope people understand because it is not something against Brazil. I have family in Brazil, and it is the country where I was born. I hope that God allows me to live there again in the future.”

http://youtu.be/67LfPWxqyzA

Costa is in the perfect form to guide his team to a La Liga triumph, or even a second spot. He can also lead his team to some form of a Champions League feat and repay the faith his manager has in him; one who has brought out the best in him. With him attracting a lot of attention, his loyalty towards the Los Rojiblancos will play an essential part, and with him being currently settled and focused at Atletico Madrid, it’s unlikely that we will hear him move to an EPL club or Dortmund, where his services are immensely required.