Diego Costa is the player who most surprised me, says Diego Simeone

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Vaishali Bhardwaj4 October 2017

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has admitted Diego Costa is the player who has surprised him the most during his career as a football manager.

Atletico re-signed Costa in September following a three-year spell at Chelsea, where the striker helped the club win two Premier League titles and the League Cup trophy.

Before that, Costa played a key role in Los Rojiblancos claiming their first La Liga title in 18 years and now returns with Atletico sitting in fourth place in the Spanish top-flight standings - although the Spain international will not be able to play until January.

With the striker back in Madrid, Simeone admits Costa's all-round abilities surprised him the most and reveals how Atletico would not have been able to sign the 28-year-old had he not have gone on strike in his homeland of Brazil this summer.

Simeone told Cadena Ser: "Last year we were close. I spoke a lot with him. If he had not made the effort this summer the transfer would not have been possible."

When then asked whether Costa is the ideal forward for Atletico, Simeone replied: "Of the players of his level he is the one for us. Another one of that level or better and we would not be able to afford.

"Of all the players I have had he is the one that has surprised me the most. He brings together all the qualities of goals, workrate, effort and leadership."