The Portuguese midfielder has returned to the island to enjoy a few days of rest after participating in the World Cup, where Portugal fell to Spain. His transfer, with Leipzig as the main interested party, could be around €25 million.
Portuguese player Samu Costa is back in Mallorca. The 25-year-old midfielder landed at Palma airport on Wednesday after his participation in the World Cup in the United States, where Portugal was eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals. The player, who was called up by Roberto Martínez, did not play a starring role in the tournament, but simply being on the list of 26 for a World Cup is already a milestone in his career. Now, his immediate future involves resolving his departure from RCD Mallorca, a move that is taken for granted after the team's relegation to the Second Division.
Leipzig in pole position for Samu Costa
The club that is most strongly linked to acquiring his services is RB Leipzig, where he could reunite with Argentine coach Demichelis, who managed him last season at Son Moix. The German team, qualified for the upcoming Champions League, sees Samu as a quality reinforcement for their midfield. Mallorca, for its part, has set the exit price at €20 million, although the sporting management led by Ortells aims to close a deal closer to €25 million, not counting possible variables and percentages from future sales.
The player, originally from Aveiro, has already said goodbye to the Mallorca fans in the last league match against Real Oviedo when he was substituted in the second half. The stadium stood up to applaud one of the standout players of the season, despite the difficult sporting situation that led the team to relegation. Samu responded by turning to all the stands, aware that it was his last farewell as a local.
The Premier League dream and Almería's role
Although Leipzig appears to be the most likely destination, Samu Costa's dream remains to land in the Premier League. The Portuguese midfielder, who has scored seven goals from his 'box to box' position this season, views the option of playing in England positively, although he would also welcome a return to Portugal or, as has been mentioned, reuniting with Demichelis in Germany. Saudi Arabia, which tempted the player last summer with very lucrative financial offers, is now in the background.
An important factor in the operation is Almería, the club from which Samu arrived at Mallorca in 2023 for around €3 million. The Andalusian team retained 20% of the rights to a future sale, so if the transfer closes at €25 million, about €5 million would go to Almería's coffers. The player's representative, Ulisses Santos, is in charge of negotiating the exit, following the breakup with Jorge Mendes last summer.
For Mallorca fans, Samu Costa's departure is a hard but expected blow. The player has been one of the few joys in a grey season, and his performance has skyrocketed his market value. The Mallorca management hopes to receive an amount that helps rebuild the team for the upcoming season in the Second Division, with the aim of regaining their status. In the meantime, Samu will enjoy a few days of vacation on the island before his future is definitively resolved.
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