When it comes to transfer unveilings this summer, it may have been a case of saving the very best until last.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have now officially confirmed the arrival of Diego Costa, with the Chelsea hero signing a contract until the end of the season. The 33-year-old returns to the Premier League for the first time since his acrimonious departure from Stamford Bridge in 2017.
During his first stint in English football the Spain international won two titles in three seasons and earned a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in Europe. The player arriving at Molineux may not be at that level anymore and will take some time to regain his match fitness - but his signing has been met with delight from his new supporters.
Costa, who has been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro, was drafted in after £15million summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic suffered a serious knee injury on his debut. That left Bruno Lage’s side short of options with Raul Jimenez struggling with fitness and form himself.
Costa arrives in the Black Country at the perfect time and Wolves delivered the announcement in memorable fashion. In a video posted on the club’s social media accounts Costa is seen with three snarling wolves on the end of a chain.
And while he made his name for himself for his physical, no-nonsense approach to the game, even he admitted that his unveiling left him a little concerned. “I was scared to death. Holding that chain I kept thinking, ‘What if this wolf thinks about jumping on top of me?’ and then the three of them did,” he said after his signing was confirmed.
“Because the lady training them kept calling them, asked them to move around a little and the dog, the wolves didn’t do a single thing. And I thought, ‘If they’re not doing anything with the trainer, if they come’...when they came and smelled my foot, I knew I was done for.
“I was a little scared then. Those were wolves, not dogs. It was a cool experience but not a very comfortable one. I have five dogs, but they’re not wolves!”
Costa will now begin to ramp up his match sharpness and could have a couple of weeks to do so, with doubts over whether this weekend’s Premier League matches will go ahead.
“What they [fans] can expect from me is dedication, willingness, discipline and goals which is what I will try to bring to the team to thank for all the support and all the trust,” he added.
“If it’s entirely up to me, as a supporter, you can bet that I will give it my all, give it my 100 per cent on the pitch as if it were a new beginning. Since this is a challenge, a lot of dedication and love on the pitch as I will give the best of me.”
