Diego Costa insists he is now a reformed character from the player who collected 58 yellow and seven red cards before he joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid for £32million last summer.
But, according to a biography on the player published in Spain and entitled ‘Diego Costa, El Arte de la Guerra’ (Diego Costa, the Art of War), it would be near impossible for him to change the habits of a lifetime. Costa reveals how he played street football until he was 16 and was never afforded the luxury or discipline available to youngsters who joined club academies.
He says: “In the street you have to be the most cunning one. In that environment, I didn’t control myself. I got annoyed about everything.
“I remember a lot of games in which my friends and I ended up crying. I fought with everyone.
“I insulted everyone. I had no respect for the opposition. I thought I had to kill them. Boys who grew up playing in academies are taught to control themselves and respect others, but no one taught me otherwise. I didn’t have a school to teach me this. I was used to seeing players elbow each other in the face and thought it was the norm. If you’re a kid and step on someone they blame you.”
