How Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho convinced Diego Costa to reject Liverpool

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was “totally depressed for a month” after he reversed over his pet Yorkshire Terrier and killed it. It has been revealed that Chelsea FC agreed to pay more money to Atletico for the Spaniard, if they rejected Liverpool FC’s approach and held on to the striker for another 12 months.

But extracts from a biography of Costa by Fran Guillen allege that Rodgers’ former mentor Mourinho played a part in his decision to turn down a move to Anfield two years ago.

Aside from his discipline Costa was ruthlessly efficient in front of goal with a 66% shot accuracy, the second highest in the Chelsea squad behing Felipe Luis (67%).

‘Liverpool were quickest off the mark, offering €25m (£17m) for the Brazilian and triggering the release clause in his contract, ‘ writes Guillen, as quoted by the London Evening Standard. Now, at last, Atlético had one more space for a non-EU player.

It reads: “Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea, had also identified Costa as a primary target, a Didier Drogba-style centre-forward around whom he could forge a new winning machine”. However, the Spaniard signed a new contract with Atletico Madrid and turned down the offer to sign for Liverpool FC.

The 26-year-old Costa is in doubt for Chelsea’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal this weekend, with Blues boss Jose Mourinho saying his striker felt a twinge in his hamstring during their pre-season friendly win over Barcelona in North America.

“However, Mourinho had yet to persuade owner Ramon Abramovich to accelerate his building plans”. For example, Benfica’s Nemanja Matić, another immediate target for the new manager, would have to wait until January 2014.

Mourinho connived, and determined to do anything within his power to delay or divert Costa’s transfer to Liverpool.

‘Samuel Eto’o was the stop-gap acquisition.

Costa signed a new contract at the Vicente Calderon before moving to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £32 million last summer which proved the catalyst for Chelsea’s eventual Premier League title victory. “The release clause also went up, and the understanding was that the new season would be Costa’s last for Los Colchoneros”.