Leeds United winger Helder Costa will miss out on a £9 million move to Valencia after falling behind fellow Premier League loanee Bryan Gil in the La Liga club’s pecking order, as reported by Marca.
Remember when Leeds United’s official Twitter account posted a video of a steaming hot cup of Costa coffee and sent West Yorkshire into raptures?
The signing of the once-capped Portugal international, initially on loan and then for a permanent fee of £16 million, felt, at the time, like one of the marquee moments of the Andrea Radrizzani era.
An undoubted display of ambition. A coup almost to rival that of Marcelo Bielsa himself.
Things are certainly different now.
Leeds United supporters might be some of the most vocal, most passionate in all of European football. But regular Elland Road attendees would have to admit that, when the tide changes, it doesn’t take long for the air to turn toxic.
And, as Costa blazed shot after shot into the stands, his position in the Leeds team quickly started to feel untenable. A loan move away from West Yorkshire looked initially like the best thing for all parties but, when Costa returns to his parent club in the summer, his reputation will take some rebuilding.
Is Helder Costa finished at Leeds United?
After all, things haven’t exactly gone to plan at Valencia either. Costa’s played just 25 minutes of La Liga football since being hauled off at half-time during February’s 2-1 defeat to an insipid Alaves side – a performance that earned the 28-year-old a match rating of 2/10 by one Castellon-based publication.
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The arrival of Bryan Gil on a short-term deal from Tottenham Hotspur in January has pushed Costa even further down Jose Bordalas’ pecking order. Marca go as far as to say that the signing of Gil has sent Costa ‘into oblivion’.
Valencia have no interest in triggering the £9 million release clause in his contract.
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