Last week we covered claims from close to Valencia which told Helder Costa he needed to ‘wake up, get his act together and start giving the performance all expect’ from him.
Out of Marcelo Bielsa’s plans at Leeds United, the attacker was allowed to join Valencia on a loan basis, and things have gone pretty terribly since.
He’s out of the main squad picture for manager Jose Bordalas and there’s no clear sign this could just be a temporary measure. Marca explain the coach is unhappy with Costa’s defensive contribution, and given that’s important for Bordalas, the Leeds owned man won’t get in the team until the situation has greatly improved.
Bordalas even went public about it at the weekend.
With just 37 minutes of football since April, it’s clear the 27-year-old is at a crossroads in his career, and that appears largely down to his application.
Should Bordalas feel there’s not the required defensive effort then it’s unlikely Bielsa will feel any different.
If they can, Valencia may look to terminate the loan in January. Should that not be possible, then it looks like Costa will return to Leeds next summer, where he has a contract lasting until June 2024.