Helder Costa has endured a couple of very tough seasons since helping Leeds United back to the Premier League during the 2019/20 campaign. He joined Valencia on loan in the summer to try and re-find his best form but has really struggled to make his mark in La Liga.
Aside from the fact that he played the full 90 minutes, his appearance for Los Murcielagos in their 2-0 defeat against Villarreal on Tuesday evening largely epitomised his time at the Mestalla. There were very few, if any, players in the Valencia team who had less of an impact against the Champions League semi-finalists.
As mentioned, it was something of a rarity for the Angola international to see out the full match, a feat he has achieved on only four occasions this season. Costa has been substituted in nine of his other 13 starts, highlighting his continued struggles on the pitch.
Read more: Assessing each of Leeds United's loanees seasons so far and whether they have Elland Road future
So ineffective was his performance against Villarreal that he received a 3/10 rating from Spanish outlet ElDesmarque. That rating was paired by the description of his performance which roughly translated into: “He played in the centre. He was guilty of excessive individualism. The inactivity and the benching have taken their toll.”
Costa will return to Elland Road during the summer where, in spite of the new manager, he is unlikely to be able to break back into the first team. Jesse Marsch may well give him the benefit of doubt to prove himself but his previous showings in the Premier League, and in La Liga, paint a bleak picture.
A summer departure for Costa is likely to be on Victor Orta’s transfer agenda but, similarly to last summer, finding a potential suitor is likely to prove a challenge.
