Out of action due to the club's lack of a youth team, he was loaned that summer to Penafiel in the second division, managed by former Portugal international Rui Bento, who desired the "rough diamond". He initially struggled with loneliness and the comparatively cold weather of northern Portugal. Club career Early careerĬosta signed for his first European club in February 2006, Portugal's Braga. He never turned professional, but had a three-month trial at Basque club Salvatierra. Jair played on the same team as Diego, and was a slimmer, more technically able player, but had less focus the two were often not fielded at the same time in order to prevent arguments. Costa's father was apprehensive of sending his son to Europe, and suggested he instead sign for nearby Associação Desportiva São Caetano, but he was adamant that he would take the opportunity. Although he was sent off in the first game of the tournament, he attracted the attention of renowned Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, who offered him a contract at Braga. He turned professional at the club, earning around £100 per month, and competed in the under-18 Taça de São Paulo despite a four-month ban for slapping an opponent and dissent towards the referee. Before joining this team, he had never been coached in football. Although he was never a professional, Jarminho had connections in football and recommended his nephew to Barcelona Esportivo Capela, a team from the south of the city set up as an alternative to drugs and gangs for youth of the favelas. ![]() At age 15, he left Sergipe and moved to São Paulo, to work in the store of his uncle Jarminho. Ĭosta trialled unsuccessfully at his hometown team Atlético Clube Lagartense. He has since set up a football academy in his hometown, where he pays all the costs. Despite regularly playing street football, Costa did not believe as a child that he would turn professional, in part due to the remote location of his hometown. His father named him in honour of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona despite the rivalry between the two nations, and he has an elder brother named Jair after Brazilian player Jairzinho. Early lifeĬosta was born in Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil, to parents José de Jesus and Josileide. Known for his fiery temperament, Costa has been criticised and punished for several confrontations with opponents. He made his debut for Spain in March 2014, and has since won 24 caps and scored 10 goals, and has represented them at the 20 FIFA World Cups. He played twice for Brazil in 2013, before declaring his desire to represent Spain, having been granted Spanish citizenship in September that year. In 2018, following a rift with head coach Antonio Conte, Costa returned to Atlético Madrid in a club record transfer worth an initial €56 million, where he won a UEFA Europa League title and another UEFA Super Cup.Ĭosta is a dual citizen of Brazil and Spain. In London, Costa won three trophies, including two Premier League titles, and a League Cup. His performances attracted the attention of several big clubs, and in 2014 Costa was transferred to Premier League club Chelsea in a deal worth €35 million (£32 million). ![]() He blossomed as a goalscorer, and helped the team win a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey title, and a UEFA Super Cup. In 2011 Costa returned to Atlético with a greater role. Costa struggled to maintain a regular starting role with Atlético, and spent more time on loan, this time at Rayo Vallecano, where he finished as the club's highest scorer that season. His form earned him a move to fellow La Liga club Real Valladolid in 2009, where he spent one season, finishing as their top goalscorer, before returning to Atlético Madrid. Over the next two seasons he had loan periods with Braga, Celta Vigo and Albacete. He never played for the club but spent time on loan at Penafiel, and signed with Atlético Madrid the following year. *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:11, 8 April 2023 (UTC)ĭiego da Silva Costa ( Spanish:, Portuguese: born 7 October 1988), commonly known as Diego Costa, is a Brazilian-Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.Ĭosta began his football career in his native Brazil before joining Braga in Portugal in 2006, aged 17.
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