On August 31st – transfer deadline day – Valencia signed Helder Costa from Leeds on a season-long loan, while also including an option-to-buy.
As things stand, that option-to-buy will almost certainly go unused.
What’s the story?
Well, Spanish media outlet Deporte Valenciano have been very critical of the £32,500-a-week Leeds forward.
They write that the £16m man needs to ‘reach a higher level’ at the Mestalla, and also needs to ‘wake up’ and ‘get his act together’ – they certainly don’t sugarcoat things.
Deporte Valenciano add that Costa ‘hasn’t done particularly well’ at Valencia since his move from Elland Road.
Now, in our view, that’s very harsh from the Spanish news outlet.
Helder Costa hasn’t been given a chance since Leeds exit
We’re absolutely baffled by what Deporte Valenciano have written.
Costa has been given just 11 – yes, 11 – minutes of football by José Bordalás this season. What is he supposed to do with that?
To make matters worse, that 11 minutes came against Real Madrid of all clubs, a particularly hard test for any player, let alone a new face.
Costa hasn’t even been suffering from any injury problems.
The 27-year-old has been named on the bench three times in La Liga this season – aside from the Real Madrid game – and hasn’t been subbed on once.
Deporte Valenciano have been extremely unfair on the Leeds forward here, in our view.
If they want to write a piece like this, we suggest giving Costa the chance to at least play a full 90 minutes before dishing out such a scathing attack.
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