Chelsea legend Costa 'scared to death' on joining Wolves
FT Desk
- Updated: 4 Jan 2023 08:35 GMT
- 3 min read
Wolves have announced the signing of Diego Costa - a two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea - the Brazil-born Spain international returning to England after five years away.
Never one to shy away from conflict, Costa scored 59 goals in 120 games for Chelsea, firing the Blues to Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017 before returning to Atletico Madrid in 2018.
While Wolves and Chelsea don't have the biggest rivalry, the manner of the announcement of his arrival a Molyneux had even the battling striker nervous.
It's official. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/FXcgReSlsr
— Wolves (@Wolves) September 12, 2022
Wolves posted a video to social media in which Costa was recorded holding three wolves back with chains - not something 62 yellow and three career red cards can prepare you for.
"I was scared to death," the 33-year-old explained after signing his one-year contract. "Holding that chain I kept thinking, 'What if this wolf thinks about jumping on top of me?' and then the three of them did!"
Costa: 'done for!'
"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!"
Related articles
Costa was signed after Sasa Kalajdzic - a €17.3 million summer arrival from VfB Stuttgart - ruptured his cruciate ligament.
The striker hasn't played competitive football since December after terminating his contract with Brazilian Serie A side Atletico Mineiro, but he says he is fit and ready.
"What the fans can expect from me is dedication, willingness, discipline and goals which is what I will try to bring to the team. I thank them for all the support and all the trust."
