Diego Costa could be hit with an eight-game ban on Wednesday – and that could spell the end of his Atletico Madrid career.
The former Chelsea striker was sent off in the first half of Atletico’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at the weekend and his reaction has landed him in hot water.
The report of referee Jesus Gil Manzano says Costa allegedly insulted the official’s mother before he left the pitch and also grabbed his arm in a bid to stop him showing further cards.
Costa will receive an automatic two-match suspension for the dismissal but his reaction is likely to see more games added – it could be as many as eight. That would rule him out of the rest of the season, one which sees Atletico battling city rivals Real for second place in La Liga’s Primera Division.
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Reports suggest that Atletico boss Diego Simeone is becoming increasingly frustrated by Costa’s poor discipline – he also missed the club’s Champions League second leg against Juventus recently, a game which saw them lose 3-0 to blow a two-goal lead in the tie.
He has only scored five goals in his 21 appearances this season, too, with Simeone opting to sign Alvaro Morata in January in a bid to boost his side’s output.
It is suggested Atletico could opt to cash in on the 30-year-old in the summer transfer window. Costa’s current contract, signed in January 2018, has two more years left to run but were Costa to be put up for sale, a number of Premier League clubs would likely be interested.
