Diego Costa: the possible goodbye to the last warrior of Cholo

Diego Costa may be Atlético's most popular outing in this market of signings. If last year emblematic players of the entity left the club as Godín, Juanfran, Filipe Luis or Griezmann, This year may see the farewell of the Spanish-Brazilian forward, another key player in Simeone's stage at the head of the rojiblanco team. Costa, 31 years old (in October it will be 32), has a contract for one more season with Atlético, who must find a way out for him if he wants to get some money for the striker. Next summer he will go free. Diego Costa's market value is 14 million and it has sounded for several clubs: from Italy (Milan) and from Turkey (Galatasaray). He Benfica He is also very attentive to the situation of the forward. He is not the Diego Costa of yesteryear, although he still has a good poster in European football.

He Forward began his second stage at the Madrid club in January 2018. He came back from Chelsea and the Atlético invested 55 million in his signing. Two and a half years later, his performance was not as expected and the Wanda Metropolitano entity listens to offers for him. The truth is that in two and a half exercises has marked only 17 goals and given 14 assists. Very distant scoring figures for a center forward and for a team that wants to fight with guarantees for all the titles.

In his first half season he scored 7 goals in 23 games. The fans promised them very happy with their return, especially when he scored against Getafe, in his debut with Atlético. That campaign the Madrid team won the Europa League. The European title sparked optimism among a fan who saw the farewell to Fernando Torres.

The 18-19 campaign started it big, scoring two goals against Real Madrid in the final of the European Super Cup. It was perhaps his only joy. That night in Tallinn, Costa was his usual self. Then came an operation on a toe and recovery thinking about the Champions League tie against Juventus. Costa's work paid off and He was able to play against the Italian team, but a silly card deprived him of the return. Total, 21 matches disputed and five goals (including the two against the Madrid team).

In this campaign their numbers have been very similar. He played 30 games and scored five goals, all of them in LaLiga. In Champions it was zero. He contested a position in the lead with Morata and was headline the momentous matches: the return against Liverpool, the quarter-final against Leipzig … Cholo trusted him in the decisive moments. Other new injury he had time away from the playing fields.

Atlético need goals and Costa has not given them. He is still competitive as ever, but age takes its toll. The rojiblanco club also needs make box to strengthen in the center of the field and in attack. It is not an easy way out. It is about the departure of the last idol of the Atlético fans. The last warrior of Cholo may be goodbye.