In 2013, Chelsea convinced striker Diego Costa to not join fellow Premier League side Liverpool, and wait for Jose Mourinho to come calling one year later, according to a newly released book about the ex-Atletico Madrid striker.
Last summer, the Brazilian signed for the Blues from the La Liga side, despite the Reds being interested in him a year prior to his move.
Fran Guillen, the Spanish author of the book ‘Diego Costa: The Art of War‘ revealed that the West London club told him to wait for their move.
Liverpool were quickest off the mark, offering €25m (£17m) for the Brazilian and triggering the release clause in his contract,” the London Evening Standard quotes Guillen as saying. “However, Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea, had also identified Costa as a primary target.
If Costa could not be signed now, a strategy was needed to ensure he was delayed, and not diverted. Chelsea and Mourinho made their case to Costa and Atletico – turn down Liverpool now and we will sign you, for more money, in 12 months.
In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Costa bagged himself 21 goals, despite frequent injuries. He’ll now be hoping to better that in the upcoming campaign, suffer less from injuries, and prevent himself from getting banned!
