Diego Costa should remain at Chelsea, says Hristo Stoichkov
Sunday 22 January 2017 12:41, UK
Diego Costa should chase glory with Chelsea rather than take a lucrative offer from the Chinese Super League, says Hristo Stoichkov.
Costa did not feature for Antonio Conte's side as they defeated Leicester 3-0 last weekend, with the Spain international linked with a lucrative move to the Far East.
But former Bulgaria striker Stoichkov, who managed an 18-year-old Costa when he was head coach at Celta Vigo, has told his former protege to snub a big-money transfer and instead concentrate on winning silverware at Stamford Bridge.
"My advice is to stay where he is," he told The Sun On Sunday. "He is too young.
"Today in football there is a lot of money in the world but football is different in England, Spain, Germany, Mexico or the USA.
"It is very important for him to stay in England as every day it gets bigger and bigger with more and more people watching the games.
"There are unbelievable fans, every game is at a full stadium and it is very important to play there and 28 is very young.
"The money today is very important but so is having millions of people watching you play."
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Stoichkov briefly coached Celta Vigo in 2007 and says Costa made a positive impression on him.
"I remember coaching him in Spain at Celta when he was only about 18," he added. "He was smart and responded well when he was coached.
"Now he is one of the best players in the world and he is still a young man.
"What I really remember is he had the character of a winner, so it is very important for Chelsea that he stays with them.
"Antonio Conte is a smart guy and he will know this too."
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