Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo plays down Diego Costa’s chances of returning from Chelsea as ‘almost impossible.’
Cerezo was speaking to Onda Cero’s Al Primer Toque programme and the subject of the former Atletico striker was among those raised.
“He has a contract with Chelsea and it has to be respected,” Cerezo said, AS reports.
“Negotiating with Chelsea would be very hard, almost impossible. He is a star at Chelsea.”
Cerezo continued by discussing another former Atletico striker on the books at Stamford Bridge as well as the future of a former one playing at Vicente Calderon.
“Fernando Torres? At the end of the season it will be the coaches who decide,” he said of El Nino, whose contract with Atleti is up in the summer.
“It depends on them. He is a great player.
“Radamel Falcao? He’s been injured and we don’t know the extent. Nobody has offered Falcao to us. If his agents have been in contact with the club, I don’t know about it.”
Atletico have made a habit of selling strikers for substantial amounts of money and Cerezo gave an insight into the club’s approach to transfers.
“In the last eight or nine years we haven’t wanted to sell anyone,” he claimed.
“Those who have left have been in agreement with us and the team that wanted to take them. I always say players play where they want to play.
“If there is an agreement between the three parties, it’s best that they leave.”
Arda Turan was one such player to leave, joining Barcelona in the summer, and Cerezo complimented the Turkey international before turning to some of Arda’s ex-teammates and his former Coach, Diego Simeone.
“He’s a great player and a good person. He’ll succeed where he plays, he’ll do very well,” Cerezo predicted.
“He’s a magnificent player, a magnificent person and above all, it was a good deal for Barca, for Arda and for Atletico.
“Antoine Griezmann is a player very important to Atletico. He fights, runs and endures for 90 minutes.
“Could he win the Ballon d’Or? Why not? If he was promoted I’m sure they’d give it to him.
“Jan Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world. He’s shown that all season. And he has a great advantage: he’s 20-years-old. He has a lifetime. He’ll see us inaugurate another stadium.
“Simeone is very important for the players to come. Cholo has changed Atletico’s life. It was a wise move to hire him. We’re pleased and happy he’s here for many years.”
