Diego Costa recalls epic battles with Puyol and Piqué: “They would apologize.”

Diego Costa, one of the most iconic strikers in the history of Spanish football, opened up in a revealing conversation with his former teammate Mario Suárez, recalling the thrilling and intense battles he fought against the defenders of two of the world’s biggest clubs: Barcelona and Real Madrid. What followed was a true journey back in time, where Costa spared no details about the rivalry that marked him during his time at Atlético de Madrid.

Speaking on the podcast, Costa highlighted the peculiar approach of Barcelona’s centre-backs, Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué. “They would hit me and then apologize. I would tell them, ‘Please don’t apologize. I want you to insult me,'” the forward revealed, sketching a profile of defenders who, despite their toughness on the field, showed a more human side after confrontations. The player admitted that facing them was a tough task, acknowledging that “it was very difficult to play against Barcelona, they only defended.”

In contrast, the interaction with the Real Madrid duo, composed of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, was marked by a more intense and emotional rivalry. “On the field, we didn’t get along. They are men; they wanted to defend their own, and I wanted to defend mine. Everything stayed on the field. In the end, we always apologized to each other,” Costa recalled, highlighting how the competitive atmosphere shaped relationships between opposing players, even though the rivalry was fierce.

The former Atlético striker also recalled the golden era of 2013/14, when his club won LaLiga, but saw the dream of the UEFA Champions League slip away in the final against Real Madrid, marked by a dramatic goal from Sergio Ramos in the 90+3 minute. “I had to push myself to play against Barcelona. We had fought so hard to win that league… the Champions final was secondary to me, I just wanted to win that game,” Costa stated, revealing that winning the championship was his top priority.

The conversation led Costa to revisit a painful moment in his career: the injury that kept him from the Champions final. The striker recalled the controversial treatment he received in Belgrade, where he underwent a supposed treatment with horse placenta. “Now, I think it was a lie. The final started, I did three sprints and felt a sting. I waited a bit, but there was no way to get past it. I had to ask for a substitution,” he lamented, showing that the frustration of not being able to help his team at the decisive moment still haunts him.

With these statements, Diego Costa not only revived significant memories from his career but also offered a fascinating perspective on the competitive mentality that reigns among the elite in football. The rivalry he experienced on the field, the injuries, and the achievements all form part of the narrative of a player who left an indelible mark on the history of the sport.