Former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea striker Diego Costa has signed for Atletico Mineiro, the Brazilian club said on Saturday, with the Spain international set to return to action after eight months.
Local media outlets reported the contract with the former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea striker is valid until December, 2022.
Costa was born in Brazil, but has never played professionally in his home nation. He and Atletico Madrid terminated their contract at the end of last year.
Costa had been without a club since December following his departure from Atletico Madrid after the LaLiga champions agreed to the Brazil-born player's request to rescind his contract.
The striker published a video on social media Saturday confirming he will join the team that currently leads the Brazilian championship with 37 points after 16 matches. Atletico Mineiro has not lifted the national title since 1971 and plans to inaugurate a new stadium next year.
The striker started his professional career in 2006 at Portugal’s Braga, shot to fame during his 2010-2014 spell in Madrid, played three years with a lot of success and public disagreements at Chelsea and returned to the Spanish club in 2018.
Costa played for Spain at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, scoring 10 goals in 24 matches for the national team.
He returned to Atletico Madrid in January 2018 but injuries limited him to 43 LaLiga starts in three years as he scored 12 goals, and opportunities were further limited by the signings of Joao Felix and Luis Suarez.
He will join former Brazil international Hulk at his new club.
Atletico Mineiro is one of the favorites to win the Copa Libertadores this season.
Diego Costa joins Atletico Mineiro, who defeated second-placed Palmeiras 2-0 earlier on Saturday and extended their lead at the top of Brazil's Serie A to five points.
Costa's new club Atletico Mineiro are five points clear at the top of Brazil's Serie A.
