If it wasn’t for a pretty sizeable release clause in his contract, one of Euro 2024’s heroes could be a Manchester United player these days.
As far as his former coach is concerned, meanwhile, it is only a matter of time before the man who carried his side into the quarter-finals is turning out for one of the great teams of the planet at club level too.
Manchester United looked destined to bring Diogo Costa to Old Trafford back in 2023 when it emerged that Erik ten Hag was ready to move on from David de Gea.
That was, however, until it emerged that Andre Onana was available for nearly £20 million less, FC Porto refusing to budge on Costa until the £65 million release clause in his contract was triggered, per A Bola.
Record adds that United had set themselves a limit of just £30 million.
For Diamantino Figueiredo, however, Costa’s remarkable, record-breaking display during Portugal’s nervy victory over Slovenia in the last-16 is proof that the Switzerland-born 24-year-old is worth every penny of that eye-watering price-tag.
Diogo Costa shows why Manchester United wanted him
“When he makes a mistake, he doesn’t rest until he corrects it,” Figueiredo, who spent seven years as Porto’s goalkeeping coach and helped develop a young Costa, tells A Bola. “His willingness to improve was so great.
“Even when the ball was impossible (to save), he would say he was going to save it.”
There were a few moments during Portugal’s nail-biting victory over a well-drilled Slovenia side where Costa appeared to make the ‘impossible’ possible.
That brilliant one-v-one save to deny the Man United-linked Benjamin Sesko kept Roberto Martinez’s side in the competition in extra-time. Costa then secured his place in the Euro history books when he kept out a remarkable three successive spot-kicks in the resulting penalty shoot-out.
Add in Costa’s renowned passing range, and you’ve got one of the most complete goalkeepers in the game. No wonder Ten Hag – a manager who sees his number one not only as the last line of defence but also the first line of attack – was so keen.
United signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan instead
“If one of the world’s biggest clubs needs a goalkeeper, I wouldn’t mind paying 75 million euros (£65 million),” Figuereido adds, likening Costa to the iconic Manuel Neuer. “He’s 24 years old. Goalkeepers (at this age can play) for 10 years!
“And when it comes to playing with his feet, there are few like him. (Porto boss) Sergio Conceicao says he (could play as a) number 10, such is his quality in the attacking process. He puts the ball wherever he wants with great ease.”
Man United, at least, have a goalkeeper in the Diogo Costa mould of their own these days.
Onana may have had a pretty mixed start to life at Old Trafford but he too possesses some of the attributes United lacked between the sticks when De Gea held the jersey.
Onana not only has the passing range of a seasoned playmaker, his penalty record also makes for very impressive reading.
The cat-like Cameroonian saved a last-gasp Copenhagen spot-kick in the Champions League and then played a major role in United edging past Coventry City en route to FA Cup glory.