DIEGO COSTA has been handed a career lifeline after Besiktas offered him a contract, according to reports.
The former Chelsea striker, 32, terminated his contract at Atletico Madrid in December 2020 after slipping down the pecking order.
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Luis Suarez’s arrival from Barcelona the summer before, combined with Moussa Dembele’s loan move to the Wanda Metropolitano that winter, saw Costa ask to leave.
However, he failed to find a new home in the January transfer window, despite being linked with Benfica, Marseille, Atletico Minero, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras.
Costa hasn’t kicked a ball professionally in SEVEN months now but has been offered a lifeline by Turkish giants Besiktas, according to transfer guru Nicolo Schira.
According to the report, Costa has been offered a TWO-YEAR deal worth around £50,000 per week.
Besiktas are now waiting to hear back from the former Spain and Brazil international.
Schiro tweeted: “Talks ongoing with the free agent #DiegoCosta.
“The Turkish club have offered a contract until 2023 (€3m/year).
“[They] now are waiting for the choice of the striker, who is reflecting on the bid.”
It will prove a monster pay-cut for Costa, who was on a reported £270,000 at Atleti.
Costa had been keen to leave in pursuit of first-team football, but the LaLiga champions were more than happy to be rid of his wages having been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
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It’s believed Costa has demanded too much from potential suitors as deals continue to crumble.
Earlier this year, then-Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas let slip the forward was demanding roughly £260,000 a week.
But after seven months in the wilderness, Costa may accept £50,000 per week to get back into the game.
