FORMER CHELSEA CAPTAIN John Terry has branded Diego Costa “an unbelievable player” and a “born winner” as he prepares to re-join Atletico Madrid.
After three years at Stamford Bridge the Spain international has been cleared to return to the club that sold him to the Blues for £32 million back in 2014.
Costa won two Premier League titles during his time at Chelsea, netting 20 times in each of those campaigns, but was deemed surplus to requirements by Antonio Conte at the end of 2016-17.
The 28-year-old has had to wait patiently for a sale to be sanctioned, with the issue forced as he remained AWOL in Brazil, but Terry has paid an emotional tribute to his former colleague.
“Good luck Diego Costa in your next journey my friend,” he posted on Instagram.
“An unbelievable player and one of the nicest and funniest guys I have met in football, playing against him in training and games was an absolute nightmare, one of the best and underrated players I have played with and against.
“He gave everything for our club every time he wore a Chelsea shirt and was a born winner.
“Going to miss you mate. Good luck to you and your family.”
A £57 million fee will return Costa to the Spanish capital and offer him a clean slate at the end of a testing period in his career.
The player admits that his exit from Stamford Bridge has been far from ideal, but he is delighted to be heading “home”.
“It’s not the way I wanted to leave, ever,” he told the BBC.
“I have special affection for the people at Chelsea. I’m not a person who is going to smear the image. They know the person I am.”
The player was in attendance at Atletico’s La Liga game against Sevilla on Saturday afternoon.
However Costa will not be freed to make his second debut until January, as he waits for the next transfer window to officially open and for Atletico to finish serving a ban on registering new players.
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Not a Chelsea fan at all but loved this guy, a throw back to the old days!
If Chelsea meet Athletico Madrid in the Champion League what is the betting that Costa gets either a hat-trick or a red card.
@Brian Carroll: it’s costa. He’ll do both. Score the winning goal and nut a Chelsea player during the celebration
I love to hate Diego Costa. He’s still a quality player that anyone would love on their side.
@AM: except the Chelsea manager it seems.
Bit disingenuous for Terry to say Costa forced through a transfer. He was told he wasn’t wanted at Chelsea. When ya hear force through a transfer ya think of Dembele to Barca
Some praise indeed from a character like John Terry!