Helder Costa clocked up 90 minutes on Tuesday but his loan side Valencia were easily beaten by Villarreal 2-0. The Leeds winger was criticised after the match, by Spanish outlet El Desmarque – receiving a 3/10 rating.
Costa has managed to clock up 26 appearances for Valencia while on a season-long loan from Leeds this season – but he has endured a tricky time. Indeed, the Angola international has failed to score, and laid on two assists.
The winger has only started half of his 26 games, and has been substituted in nine of his 13 starts. It means Costa’s 90 minutes on Tuesday night at Villarreal was only the fourth time this season he has seen out the match.
But he might have wanted to come off. A first-half brace from Arnaut Danjuma saw Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal ease to victory over Valencia. El Desmarque criticised Costa after the match.
They handed him a 3/10 rating in their player ratings piece, before saying: “He played through the centre. He tried to do too much by himself. The lack of match fitness and warming the bench have taken their toll.”
Costa struggles for Valencia: No future at Leeds for ex-Wolves man
It raised a few eyebrows when Costa managed to secure himself a loan move to one of La Liga’s biggest clubs – and predictably, it has not gone to plan this term. Costa has been regularly used, but at best, is a squad player.
It is expected he will return to Leeds this summer with Valencia unlikely to make his loan a permanent one. He has a contract at Elland Road until June 2024, but the chances are Leeds will allow him to go on the cheap.
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