Diego Costa – Fortunebets

Diego Costa has completed his free move to Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro, with the former Chelsea striker finally landing a new club nine months on from his abrupt Atletico Madrid exit.

Costa, 32, has been a free agent since Atletico Madrid terminated his contract six months before its expiration date last December, with the Spaniards citing ‘personal reasons’ for the move.

Following the termination of his contract, Costa was allowed to join any side as a free agent and was linked with several clubs, including Arsenal and Juventus.

Benfica tabled an offer of a two-year deal worth £5m earlier this year but an agreement was never reached.

Now, the Spanish striker has completed his switch to Belo Horizonte, with Goal reporting that he has signed a one-year deal worth £40,000-per-week to play for the Brazilian top flight leaders.

‘From the world to Belo Horizonte: Diego Costa is now from Clube Atlético Mineiro,’ the club posted to their 2.2million followers on Sunday.

Costa was born and raised in Brazil. He played two friendlies for the country in March 2013 but declared he wanted to play international football for Spain later that year, having been granted Spanish nationality.

During his three-year stint at Stamford Bridge he won two Premier League titles and scored 59 goals in 120 games.

He returned to Atletico Madrid in 2017 after falling out with former Blues boss Antonio Conte, who told him via text that he was no longer part of his plans.

Conte wrote: ‘Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the season we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan.’

Costa refused to return to training, accusing the club of treating him like a ‘criminal’ and claimed he was waiting in Brazil to be set free.

Costa will be available to Atletico Mineiro as soon as he is registered with the CBF and the top-flight Brazilian side will be hoping his sabbatical has put him in firing form. The lead the top flight by five points.

Diego Costa has left Atletico Madrid after the striker’s contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The club announced on Tuesday that Costa’s deal — which only had six months left to run, until June 2021 — had been rescinded.

It means Costa will be able to join a new club on a free transfer, while Atletico significantly reduce their wage bill, allowing them to reinforce the squad during the January window.

“Atletico de Madrid and Diego Costa have reached an agreement for the termination of the striker’s contract, which was to end on June 30, 2021,” a club statement read.

“The striker asked to leave the club for personal reasons a few days ago and on Tuesday signed the termination of his contract.

“The club thanks Diego Costa for his dedication during these years and wishes him well in the next stage of his professional career.”

Atletico manager Diego Simeone said Costa had given “everything” to the club.

“He has given us a lot and we have given him a lot,” Simeone told a news conference on Tuesday.

“He needs new challenges because he feels good, strong, in good form. I can only imagine that wherever he goes he will do well because he is a fighter.

“Diego has always given us everything, in a sporting and human sense. Let’s hope he finds the right path and we can see each other again and give each other a hug.”

Costa, 32, re-joined Atletico from Chelsea in January 2018 for €66 million after spending three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge.

His first spell in Madrid was a success, culminating in winning La Liga in 2013-14 and reaching the Champions League final that same season.

Costa scored 27 league goals that term as Diego Simeone’s team claimed the club’s first La Liga title in 18 years.

His return to the club was somewhat of a disappointment, with his form disrupted by a series of injuries that meant he was only able to score a total of 12 league goals over three years.

Last season, a herniated disc saw Costa absent for three months, from November 2019 until February 2020.

He began this campaign by testing positive for the coronavirus in September, returned to face a month-long absence with a hamstring injury in October, and was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis in November.

Costa returned to action, earlier than expected, to score a penalty in Atletico’s 3-1 La Liga win over Elche earlier this month, which will now be his last goal for the club.