10 Sept 2013

'LFC is a great team, but...' - €25m striker reveals why he rejected Anfield transfer

Over the summer, Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa, but like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Brazilian rejected a move to Anfield, and signed a new contract with Madrid instead. Only time will tell if Costa made the right decision, but in a new interview, the fiery attacker reveals the reason why he snubbed a move to LFC.

Liverpool made a €25m bid for Costa in August, and speaking to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, he explained:

"I had options to leave, and I was very close to doing so."

"Liverpool is a great team, but after so much fighting and overcoming so many difficulties to win my place at Atletico, how could I go?

"I thought it was very important for me to continue growing here and playing here for many years. Here I have the trust and respect of the people."


Call me cynical, but another possibility is that Costa used Liverpool's interest to get a new contract and a bumper pay-rise at Madrid.

'I was close to leaving' = Costa saw what Liverpool were offering, then went back to Atletico and demanded they match or increase the offer. Of course, he could just be a very loyal footballer (Clearly, a major oxymoron), but I doubt it ;-)

Costa is totally different to any of the club's current attacking players, so it would've been interesting to see how/where he'd fit in. Additionally, given the transfer fee touted, you'd have to think that Rodgers had one eye on him replacing Luis Suarez, either now, or in January.

With 3 goals and 1 assist in 5 games for this season, Costa is clearly energised by his massive pay rise new found stability at Atletico, and if he continues scoring at this rate, he'll pass his 10-goal La Liga total for last season in no time.

Is Costa a big loss for Liverpool? With Daniel Sturridge's fitness becoming a real concern (4 injury lay-offs now since January), another striker on the books would've been a major boost for the club, but with Suarez soon to return, he'll hopefully fill the void.



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21 comments:

  1. I agree with your comments. While he prob had a slight interest in LFC I think he used it as a means to negotiate a better contract and higher wage. Agents are clever and know how to play the game. His stats are good but for the figure we quoted we could have got Benteke who IMO is much more suited to the premiership and would have been a great attacking force.Sturridge injuries are a slight concern and I think we ought to strengthen in this dept in January. It would have been great to get Lukaku on loan from Chelsea!

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  2. I wont miss him. I was never that enthused by the idea of him joining. Sure he would have added some strength in depth. But I think we will cope without him, I also think there are much better options available.

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  3. Good defence now, but desperately need to add quality to midfield and attack if the team is to truly improve.

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  4. Lukaku would have been a great addition.
    Do we know if Liverpool tried to get him?

    My thinking is that Chelsea wouldn't have loaned him to us, because it would have improved us quite a bit, and maybe made us more of a threat in there eyes than Everton are?
    But they don't see Moses as a big impact. I think he will be decent to have though.

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  5. I guess he was being eyed up a role in the front three, perhaps to allow Coutinho to move into a true #10 position. I think it's a loss for sure, because we've ended up with Moses instead and I think it's clear who the better player is. Perhaps Moses will suprise us all, I hope he does, but Costa has that determination and willingness to fight for his team, he bruises opposition defenders and he creates for his team mates.
    Imagine this guy up front with Sturridge and Suarez, it would be a nightmare to defend. I think that's what Rodgers had in mind and it's a shame we couldn't do a deal. Still, you only want the player if he is determined to come here and play for the club.
    Keep an eye out - this is the kind of player we're looking for now. Not as a Suarez replacement but as someone to play alongside him. If Suarez leaves in some future window then who knows who else we'll end up with, but I think it's clear what Rodgers is trying to do and I like it.

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  6. JK you're a cynical dude you are :-) Now, I assume he is on good money at Atletico and he's become more important since Falcao left so he would be stupid not to take advantage. People ask for pay rises every day so why can't he? It's also a beautiful club and just because Liverpool is the greatest club on earth for us, it doesn't have to mean that every player needs to jump at the chance of playing for us. To players, football is a job and after working hard and waiting long to become a regular at Atletico, why would he take a risk and go to Liverpool? He wouldn't be a guaranteed regular here, he doesn't know any of the players, he'd have to uproot his family and he'd have to start all over again. It's not like playing for Liverpool is the Pinnacle of world football now is it? As for Sturridge, he should have never have traveled with England and he should not have played against Notts County. They knew he was carrying an injury and of course it gets worse if you neglect it. The club should have stood firm here. Now, if he can't play, we'll have to face Swansea with Aspas up front. Which is fine but would have been less of a risk or problem had we done so in the milk cup.

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  7. From the player's perspective it's not just about wages this year, but future wages. It's his time to shine now that Falcao has left AM, given that he knows his team, and opposition well, staying would be the natural first choice.
    One player from AM that Liverpool could have gone for and would be a great addition is Cristian Rodriguez - he's like the energizer bunny, keeps going and going and going - he's underutilized, and comes in as a sub, but definite quality winger.
    Is Costa a loss? Depends, will Sturridge heal? (how long is he projected to be out for?)

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  8. MKHITARYAN or WILLIAN would've been great.This guy i was never sure about.But people who have seem more of him than myself rate him highly so i wouldn't have complained if he signed.
    We find it hard enough trying to control SUAREZ though.With COSTA's bad boy reputation the risk of more negative media coverage could've distracted us from our target of top of four.
    We missed out on attacking targets last summer and picked up two better signings in the winter window.Have we used up all our money on SAKHO and ILORI or do we have a little left over.I'm hoping our scouts can pull another rabbit out the hat in the January sales!

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  9. Jamie - do you have any facts on Glen Johnsons injury - papers are saying 10 weeks ?? How ironic because he was great v Man U

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  10. Didn't BR say that he was eyeing Costa even if they didn't sell Suarez? Jamie do you think he was not being completely honest? That was always their stand during the transfer window so I guess it's just a PR message.

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  11. The only official LFC statement on the issue is as follows:

    "After being examined by the club's medical staff at Melwood, Johnson is required to rest his ankle this week. A further review will then take place to check stability and decide on further management. Therefore, Liverpool have not put a timeframe on Johnson's return to fitness at this stage".

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  12. Very helpful update Jamie - Thanks for the prompt reply and fingers crossed then

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  13. I think the plan is to be remain in the top 4 until Jan and then add some attacking reinforcements of top quality from clubs who have dropped out of the CL which is think is a pragmatic approach. Having strengthened the defence in the summer(I believe we have the best back 4 + GK in the PL), if we can stay in the top 4 come Jan(I expect us to be 3rd place due to the fantastic start) then we can add someone like Lavezzi or Muriel or Munian and someone in the Midfield like Reges of Porto because Lucas-Gerrard midfield will lose its legs by Feb and we have Allen and Hendo to deputise for Gerrard's role but no cover at DM, So a top end attacker plus DM can see us get top 4 this season.

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  14. Maybe a case of him trying to save face, due to Suarez not moving in the transfer window. But then again he has the opportunity to play in CL this season, so that is a good reason for him to stay at Atleti, along with the money.

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  15. I think Suarez is going to be fantastic as a support striker with Sturridge and Phil as the AM behind them. He will come back hungry and if LFC manage to stay top of the league till he comes back then that is going to be extra motivation for him. Just hope Sturridge stays fit because I have a feeling Suarez and Sturridge together can easily provide 50 goals between them in the league and if that happens that could mean only one thing, top 4 guaranteed!!

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  16. Atleti did buy in David Villa though. Atleti have continued to use Costa with another striker and this time its Villa, instead of Falcao. I don't think Costa is necessarily the outright no.1 striker at the club, at least not yet.

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  17. Well put - the pay rise thing is all speculation, and players do that all the time so why can't he? Makes for a daft read if you ask me.
    Furthermore, Atletico Madrid are in the Champions League, so moving to Liverpool isn't exactly a 'step up' at this point in time. In a world cup year when you are guaranteed first team action with a good club in the Champions League, I wouldn't have made the move either - pay rise or no pay rise.
    Now if you want to talk about players angling to get a pay rise by feeding off of other clubs' interest - Benteke is the one to write about; Villa are not in Europe and are targeting mid-table, yet he attracted interest from multiple bigger clubs.

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  18. Maybe fit for Swansea, surely for the next.

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  19. dont be silly orme

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  20. If that happens Liverpool will win the title. Because, I don't think there's any instance of 2 players scoring in excess of 20 goals in the league in the same season for the same team.

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