Atletico’s Costa to have foot surgery this week after old injury resurfaces

Madrid, Dec 4: Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that striker Diego Costa is set to have surgery on his left foot later this week, after an old injury to his fifth metatarsal bone resurfaced last month.

Costa, 30, was re-injured during the 3-2 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao on Nov. 10, and the club's medical team has been weighing whether to do an operation or maintain a conservative approach, reports Efe news.

"Diego Costa is to be operated on in Brazil this week due to ongoing pain in his left foot," Atletico said in a statement, without specifying an expected recovery time.

"Our striker, who had an operation on the fifth metatarsal of his left foot 12 years ago, has been enduring ongoing pain due to foot trauma suffered three weeks ago," the club added.

The surgery decision comes after Costa retook the field Sunday in the 1-1 La Liga draw with Girona.

His foot injury had recently kept him sidelined for the 2-0 UEFA Champions League win over Monaco on Nov. 28.