Leeds United forward Helder Costa has seen his loan spell at Valencia become a ‘disaster’ after Bryan Gil replaced him in the side.
That’s according to Deporte Valenciano, who say it now remains to be seen if he can turn things around and secure himself a permanent move to the Mestalla.
Costa joined Valencia on loan in the summer transfer window after being ousted from Elland Road by the arrival of Dan James from Manchester United.
After initially struggling in Spain, with Covid-19 playing its part, he went on to establish himself as a key man under Jose Bordalas and earned glowing praise from all corners as a result.
However, that’s changed dramatically since the beginning of the year, and he’s gone from an ‘important man at Valencia to nothing’.
He had been an ‘undisputed starter’ but has only played 133 minutes in seven games this year and just two as a starter.
The Leeds man is now playing an ‘absolutely residual role’, which is not good news for a player whom the club were debating whether to sign permanently in the first place.
His place in Bordalas’ team has now been taken by Gil, who is the darling of Valencia after arriving from Tottenham on loan in January.
It’s clear to everyone that Costa ‘will not steal the limelight’ from him, so he needs to find another way to get back into contention.
Nobody doubts he has ‘experience and quality’, and Valencia are at a point in the season where they need both, and urgently.
It’s up to him to provide and find a more important role than the one he has, as it would be difficult for him to get a lesser one at this point, and the likelihood is he’ll be on his way back to Leeds at the end of the campaign.
