KEY POINTS

  • Atletico Mineiro is already finalizing a deal with Diego Costa
  • The club hopes Costa is now mentally ready to play
  • Costa's deal was made possible following the departure of several key players

Diego Costa, who last played for Atletico Madrid, is nearing a return to the sport.

The Brazilian striker has reportedly verbally agreed to join Atletic Mineiro on a one-year deal worth $3 million.

The development was confirmed by Goal, setting the stage for the 32-year-old to return to action after a layoff.

Costa left Atletico Madrid in December after his contract was terminated six months early.

The Brazilian striker should arrive in Mineirao in the coming days, where he is expected to undergo a medical evaluation before officially signing the contract.

The pact is reportedly similar to the one that Galo gave to Givanildo Vieira de Sousa--or better known as “Hulk.”

The impending signing of Costa was made possible following the exit of players like Bueno, Gabriel, Diego Tardelli and Marrony.

For those who have been keeping tabs with Costa’s remuneration demands, the $3 million offer is significantly less.

But it appears that other perks like bonuses are lined up and largely dependent on how he will perform in domestic and continental competitions.

The person who was singled out behind getting the deal done is Atletico Mineiro coach Cuca. He was backing the pursuit from day one and made sure that it would be consummated.

Club director Rodrigo Caetano was also responsible for negotiations with Costa.

Once sealed, pundits will try to see if Costa is fully ready to play football once more. He cited personal reasons as to why he wanted to leave Wanda Metropolitano.

Additionally, he was not interested in signing a contract extension, a reason seen behind the early termination of his contract by Atletico Madrid.

When he was a free agent, teams like SL Benfica and Bologna FC took interest in the striker. However, negotiations never progressed with either team.

Diego Costa
Diego Costa has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent weeks. Getty Images

Costa struggled to perform well in his return to Atletico Madrid following a stint with Chelsea in 2018. He managed to score only 12 times in La Liga in four seasons.

In his final English Premier League season, the Brazilian striker only scored 20 times.

After being out for more than seven months, many are curious to see how ready and focused Costa is to play top-level football. The answer to that should be known soon.

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