Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Costa: Chelsea one of world's top clubs

Diego Costa has spoken of his delight at his imminent move to Chelsea and claimed he cannot wait to test himself in the Premier League.

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Costa, 25, passed a medical with Chelsea prior to his departure for the World Cup finals with Spain, sources told ESPN FC earlier this month.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said on Sunday he is "very confident" the deal will be concluded soon, and now Costa has revealed he expects to move to Stamford Bridge soon.

"Why would I have chosen to play for Chelsea? It is a thing that is about to happen," Costa told Goal.com. "Things are going in a direction and, if they keep going as they are going, it is the team I will play for in the next season."

The Brazil-born Spain striker's nomadic career has already taken in seven different clubs in the Iberian Peninsula since joining Portuguese side Braga in 2006. After winning the Spanish league title and reaching the Champions League final with Atletico last season, Costa is ready to test himself in English football.

"I've wanted to play in the Premier League for a while," he said. "Chelsea are one of the greatest clubs of the world so there are many factors that make you take a decision like this.

"Every year is a different story, nothing is easy in life. I will have to work a lot to fit in with the style of the Premier League."

Costa went on to talk up Spain's hopes of bouncing back from their thumping 5-1 defeat at the hands of Netherlands in their opening World Cup Group B match last Friday, in which he won the penalty which earned the defending champions an early lead before a second-half blitz from the Dutch.

"It was a tough loss [but] a match like this happens now and then," he said. "There is a positive side which is that we still have a chance, so we have to keep our heads up because there are two finals to be played. There is nothing better than a next match to try to forget this one."

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