Diego Costa could miss up to three months with deep vein thrombosis

Diego Costa could miss up to three months of football, or more, after suffering a deep vein thrombosis.

A thrombosis is described as the process of a blood clot, also known as a thrombus, forming in a blood vessel. This clot can block or obstruct blood flow in the affected area, as well as cause serious complications if the clot moves to a crucial part of the circulatory system, such as the brain or the lungs.

The “thrombosis tends to happen in the lower extremities due to gravity and blood clotting there” a doctor in Barcelona’s Universidad Pompeu Fabra told ABC. “It’s something very rare for someone so young.”

The striker fought off COVID-19 earlier in the year, and it is thought that this diagnosis could be related to his having contracted the illness.

Costa, at 32, might have to deal with the fall-out from this for some time. According to Goal, one in two patients suffer from swelling, tingling or other issues in the affected areas a year after the DVT appeared.

The reason Costa is out for three months could be due to the fact that the blood tests for such things take a long time. Atlético Madrid‘s medical staff have to ensure Costa does not have an underlying issue with blood coagulation before giving him the all-clear to play again.

Costa’s thrombosis might have been detected early and he will receive the best treatment in the world. But for a player who has suffered with various fitness problems in the past, it does not bode well for his future as a professional footballer.

The Brazilan-born Spaniard definitely miss the Valencia, Bayern Munich, Real Valladolid, Red Bull Salzburg and Real Madrid games and possibly more as club and the player wait to see how the diagnosis develops.

Atlético’s injury crisis

Atlético announced themselves as title contenders against Barcelona with a 1-0 victory thanks to a Yannick Carrasco goal. That victory, Simeone’s first against Barcelona in LaLiga, might have been for naught if they can’t keep their form going in spite of a spate of recent injuries.

Luis Suárez missed that game with coronavirus and has been absent since with no Costa, or any number nine, to fill his boots. Meanwhile, Šime Vrsaljko, Manu Sánchez, Héctor Herrera and Lucas Torreira all remain out for Atlético as they try to build on their good run of form against Valencia on Saturday afternoon.