Charlton land Costa on loan

FC Porto defender Jorge Costa has joined FA Premiership side Charlton Athletic FC on loan until the end of the season with view to permanent €6.4m summer move.

Recent success
The 30-year-old Portugal international, who helped his country reach the semi-finals of Euro 2000™ and the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, decided to move to England in search of first-team football after falling out of favour with Porto coach Octavio Machado.

Curbishley hopeful
Costa has played only once, in the 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat by Celtic FC, since being stripped of the captaincy after he threw his armband to the ground during a game against Vitória Setúbal in protest at being substituted for a third game in succession. Charlton manager Alan Curbishley said of Costa: "I hope he comes into our club and gives us the leadership and defensive qualities he undoubtedly has. I hope he enjoys his time here so much he wants to stay.”

Injury crisis
The London club also announced the signing of Nottingham Forest FC midfield player Chris Bart-Williams on a month's loan as Curbishley struggles to cope with an injury crisis that has seen him lose inspirational captain Mark Kinsella until the new year as well as a number of other key squad players.

Chelsea debut?
Costa, who passed a medical at The Valley stadium on Monday and hopes to make his debut in the capital derby against Chelsea FC at the weekend, said: "I want to do well for Charlton and I hope our national team coach [António Oliveira] will pick me for the World Cup. I would be lying if I didn't expect that as I will be very sad if I don’t get a World Cup call.

'Very welcome'
“I've been here since yesterday [Sunday]. Everybody's tried to be very helpful and have made me very welcome to this club. I miss my family but I will get over that and do what I have to do. The circumstances are not what I hoped they'd be but I've come here and I'll do my best. I don't want to talk about Porto. I'm thinking about playing for Charlton and Charlton only. I'm here for five months, and then we'll make a decision about the future," added Costa.

'An example to follow'
Porto coach Machado took time out from preparing his team for the UEFA Champions League visit of AC Sparta Praha on Tuesday to wish Costa good luck as the defensive stalwart prepared to leave the Das Antas stadium after a decade at the club. "I wish him all the luck in the world," said Machado. "I hope he can be happy and successful and that he can achieve his goals. Jorge Costa is an example to follow for this club."