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Diego CostaSpanish and Brazilian footballer, striker
Country:
 Spain |
Content:
- Diego Costa: A Footballing Journey from Brazil to Spain
- European Odyssey
- Rise to Prominence at Atlético
- Premier League Glory with Chelsea
- Return to Atlético
- International Career
Diego Costa: A Footballing Journey from Brazil to Spain
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Diego da Silva Costa began his footballing career in the state of São Paulo. In February 2006, he signed with Portuguese club Braga, initially playing for their reserve team. In the summer of 2006, he was loaned to Penafiel.
European Odyssey
In December 2006, Costa was sold to Atlético Madrid for €1.5 million, but was soon loaned back to Braga for the remainder of the season. During that campaign, he scored his first goal for Braga against Parma in the UEFA Cup. Costa spent the next two seasons on loan at Celta and Albacete.
Rise to Prominence at Atlético
On July 8, 2009, Costa joined Real Valladolid as part of the deal that brought Sergio Asenjo to Atlético. However, he returned to Atlético the following season. In July 2011, he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for half of the season. In January, Costa was loaned to Rayo Vallecano, where he scored 10 goals in 16 appearances.
In the summer of 2012, Costa returned to Atlético and became a regular fixture in the team. During the 2013/14 season, he played a key role as Atlético won the La Liga title and reached the UEFA Champions League final.
Premier League Glory with Chelsea
On July 1, 2014, Chelsea acquired Costa from Atlético Madrid for €38 million. He quickly established himself as a leader on the team, scoring goals consistently and helping Chelsea win the Premier League championship. However, the following season proved disappointing for the Blues, and Costa struggled to replicate his early form.
Return to Atlético
With the arrival of Antonio Conte as manager in the 2016/17 season, Costa regained his scoring touch, netting 20 goals in 35 Premier League appearances. After a falling out with Conte, Costa left Chelsea in January 2018.
On September 26, 2017, Atlético Madrid re-signed Costa on loan with an obligation to buy. The Spanish club paid €6 million for the loan and a further €60 million to make the move permanent. Costa played a starring role in Atlético's Europa League win in 2018.
International Career
Born in Brazil, Costa was initially called up to the Brazilian national team in 2013. However, he later opted to represent Spain after gaining Spanish citizenship. He made his debut for the Spanish national team in 2014 and was included in the squad for the 2014 World Cup.
