Former Chelsea managers José Mourinho and Antonio Conte have indifferent views of ex-Blues striker Diego Costa, who is reportedly on the verge of sealing a short-term move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Transfer Deadline Day a thing of the past already in 2022/23, Wolves were able to sort out their biggest hole which consisted up top. Despite possessing multiple talented stars like Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence and the newly signed Goncalo Guedes, Lage's side were lacking a focal point with Raul Jimenez's current form non-existent.
Sasa Kaladjzic was signed late on in the 2022 summer transfer window but the tall Austrian striker had foul luck on his debut as he suffered an ACL tear in the 1-0 victory over Southampton in game week 7. As a reaction to this terrible news for Wolves, they are looking into signing free agent Costa on a short-term deal to fill in the gap that Kaladjzic was meant to occupy.
READ MORE: Diego Costa set for shock Premier League return as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set Chelsea target
Undoubtedly, Costa's winning mentality cannot be questioned with titles and cups won at Chelsea, Athletico Madrid and most recently reigning Brazilian Champions Atletico Mineiro.
However, after one season with the Serie A champions, his short-term deal was not extended meaning the player who attained 82 goal contributions in all competitions during the 120 games he featured in the Blues jersey could be returning to the same country where he made his name but this time, in an orange and black kit.
Would this be a good deal? Two managers in the form of Mourinho and Conte, who both had different successes and relationships with the Brazilian-born Spanish international, have indirectly already warned Wolves of the pros and cons of this potential transfer.
The current Roma manager was the first to have Costa under his wing at Chelsea and together, both won two trophies including the Premier League and the League Cup (Carabao Cup). Mourinho has gone on record to label the 33-year-old an 'animal' of a striker in one interview but in another, admitted that his temperament results in the media and pundits targeting him for criticism.
"I’m pleased he didn’t react, but I would be even happier if the people who find his hypothetical or real negative moments were honest the other way and show and show and show," Mourinho was quoted saying after a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa back in 2015.
"He will be targeted until the moment people point the finger at them and show the images, re-show the images and have the top pundits speaking about it.
"When you lose him we’re a bit in trouble because the team always depends on a striker like him, from a character and personality like him.
“Diego isn’t a leader in the dressing room—he doesn’t even speak English well—but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause is brilliant.”
Conte meanwhile didn't see eye-to-eye with a striker who helped the Italian and the club win their last Premier League title back in 2016/17. A reported text message excluding him from the 2017/18 squad led to a massive bust-up which the current Spurs boss opened up on in a previous discussion.
“First of all, I am a person that doesn’t want to speak badly about a situation with a player from a club that I trained,” Conte told The Telegraph back in 2020, once the dust fully settled.
“It’s right always to keep good memories and I prefer to keep good memories also about Diego Costa because we won together a league title in an incredible season.
“But, for sure, the truth, we know the truth. The player, his agent, the club and I. We know how many times he asked to go away to Atletico Madrid at the start of the season, during the season to go to China, and at the end of the season to join, again, Atletico Madrid.
“This is the truth and, honestly, in my career, I want to have players who are concentrated on my team and not to consider my team a second choice. My team must be the first choice.
“It was an incredible season and I managed, together with the club, the Diego Costa situation in the best possible way. But, in the end, the truth was only that the player wanted to leave many times to Atletico Madrid and during the season to go to China because he wanted the best contract.”
Chelsea fans - do you still believe Diego Costa has the ability to score regularly in the Premier League? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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