Atletico Madrid hand Moussa Dembele Diego Costa’s old No 19 shirt as La Liga club unveil new signing

Moussa Dembele has been officially unveiled as an Atletico Madrid player after the Frenchman completed a shock six-month loan move to the La Liga side on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old was presented with the No 19 shirt, which was previously worn by Diego Costa, as he was pictured on the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for the first time.

Atletico signed the Lyon striker as a direct replacement for Costa, whose contract was terminated in December, with a reported £29.6million option to buy in the summer.

The striker has joined the La Liga club on a six-month loan deal for the rest of the season 

Dembele has enjoyed two prolific seasons in France after leaving Celtic in 2018.

The forward scored 21 goals and made six assists during his first campaign and followed that up with 24 goals and seven assists in 46 games last season.

Lyon sporting director Juninho revealed Dembele had approached him about his desire to leave the Ligue 1 club earlier this month.

Atletico reportedly have an option to buy the 24-year-old for £29.6million in the summer

The striker managed just one goal in 16 top-flight appearances this season and Juninho claimed he had ‘lost a bit of motivation’. 

‘Moussa came to see me. He thinks that this is the moment to change teams, that he has lost a bit of motivation,’ the Brazilian said. 

‘This was not something we foresaw. I like him a lot. Keeping someone who does not really want to keep up the intensity through the next five months – that is not ideal.’

Dembele had two prolific seasons with Lyon after joining the club from Celtic in 2018

Leicester’s Islam Slimani will replace Dembele at Lyon with the forward having agreed an 18-month loan deal.

Slimani has not played for the Foxes since a 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa in October and has been sent on loan during each of the last three seasons.