Salernitana’s sports director, Walter Sabatini, is said to have convinced Diego Costa to join the last-place team in Serie A on a contract until the end of June. Costa, who has recently been linked with Arsenal in the Premier League, is a free agent since Jan. 16 when he left Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.
A former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker, the Brazilian-born Costa played at the international level for the Spanish national team.
According to Italy’s SportMediaset, the 33-year-old has agreed to play for Salernitana. His contract will be extended automatically for one more year in case the club survives relegation at the end of the season.
Talking to TuttoSalernitana about Costa’s transfer, Sabatini said that “the miracle is possible, but it hasn’t taken place yet.”
Salernitana has a tough life in Serie A
Salernitana is currently eight points away from safety with 16 games left to play until the campaign’s conclusion. The bookies have them at -1000 to get relegated this season, just like 19th-placed Genoa. Cagliari, who’s 18th, is at -200.
Another high-profile veteran is currently on Salernitana’s roster. 38-year-old Franck Ribery, a former Bayern Munich star, signed for the Serie A newcomers last summer. Ribery is out for the moment after getting infected with COVID-19.
A two-time champion in both England and Spain, Costa joined Atletico Mineiro last year. He played a total of 19 games for the Brazilian champions, netting five times, before being released this month.
The bookies have Turkish giants Besiktas as their favorites to sign him at -160. A return to Brazil is at +200, with Tottenham Hotspur and Lille at +1200. Wolves, Marsielle, and Benfica are at +1400. Salernitana isn’t even among the teams mentioned in the bookies’ offers at the moment.
Diego Costa can definitely save Salernitana from relegation.
Antonio Conte was the one who destroyed his carrer.