“The City would win the Premier with Diego Costa”

Almost a month has passed since Diego Costa and Atlético de Madrid said goodbye. The Spanish-Brazilian forward decided to terminate his contract for personal reasons and to this day he still cannot find a team. Being a free footballer, you can sign with whoever you want and the only thing to negotiate would be your emoluments. After confirming his departure, Rumors were triggered, which placed him at Wolverhampton, Marseille, Arsenal … Even at Valencia. A priori, it seems that it will not reach, therefore, a candidate to lift the Champions League next May. However, there are those who think that the 'killer' still has a sufficient level, not only to belong, but to shine in a team of the highest level. This is the case of Micah Richards.

The former Manchester City footballer is now a columnist for the prestigious BBC. In your weekly article, you have tried to explain why you consider that Diego Costa would be a golden reinforcement for Guardiola's team. In fact, it goes further. In your opinion, the Mancuniano team would win the Premier League if it manages to reinforce itself with the exrojiblanco. Richards clarifies, yes, that the movement would not have continuity in the long term, but it would be very useful between now and June. This is how he is defined by the one who was Etihad winger for almost a decade: “He would only make a fuss and be a nuisance to rival defenses. He is a consecrated finisher who would offer the team a suitable plan B.”

Richards believes that City officials could doubt his incorporation due to his high salary, although he justifies it because of what he could contribute on the field of play. Additionally, the columnist details two examples to explain why Costa would be such a high value. Remember, first of all, the Premier title won by his teammates and him back in 2012. At that time, the squad had four level strikers: Agüero, Tévez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli. In addition, all of them ended up actively participating in the team's successes, either through important goals, rest periods or rotations in moments of fragility.

Of course, Guardiola has at his disposal a very complete squad, with several men of the highest level in each of the positions. The position of '9', perhaps, is the one that falters the most. Agüero and Gabriel Jesus They are the only two pure forwards on the squad, although Ferran Torres or Raheem Sterling can defend themselves in that position if the situation calls for it. Richards, in fact, questions the physical condition of Agüero himself and is not entirely clear about the Brazilian's footballing tendency: “I like it a lot, but he doesn't always look to get into the area to shoot balls. He often plays inside or thrown to the left, thus conditioning the game. This means that City does not have a benchmark. If there was someone who threw unchecks on the opposing defense and creative players looked for him, I honestly think it would be terrifying.

Costa, “that forward”

Once what is missing in the profile of Gabriel Jesús has been exposed, Micah Richards finds in Diego Costa the ideal candidate to provisionally resolve those weaknesses that he observes in the offensive led by Guardiola. He adds that not only would he have many chances, but those of the team would also grow by fixing the Spanish-Brazilian to the centrals. In the Premier, as a highlight, Edinson Cavani is shining. The Uruguayan responds to a profile relatively similar to that of the international for Spain: a fierce forward, veteran, who had already lost opportunities at his home club … His operations could even go the same way, since the now Manchester United player He was also left free and the only question he had with him was who would be willing to reach his high salary.

Time has shown that United were not wrong. It is no longer just his performance in statistical terms, but what he contributes to the rest of his teammates. His movements always make the rival defense dizzy, pending the threat posed by having a genetic striker as a rival. Despite his best football nights having already passed, his mere presence makes it easy for talented men behind, such as Bruno Fernandes or his attacking partner Marcus Rashford, to move. One more argument for Micah Richards, staunch defender of Costa's arrival at Etihad Stadium: “Could someone tell me that with the opportunities that City creates, I would not score ten goals between now and the end of the season. Of course I'd do it“.