When Diego Costa went back to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea in 2017 supporters got plenty of time to build up excitement over the returning hero. Atletico were banned from registering players until the new year so he spent the first three months just training.
He needed that training too after spending pre-season in Brazil, in effect on strike, after then Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said he didn’t want him.
Costa, it was felt, would put the bite back into Atletico Madrid. Supporters had not forgotten the huge part he played in them winning the title in 2014.