Atletico Madrid’s hopes of re-signing Diego Costa are being blocked by Chelsea, who won’t even discuss the striker with Los Colchoneros.
Marca reports Atletico are offering €60m to the Blues for the Spain international, €20m more than Chelsea paid Atletico for Costa in the summer of 2014, but the London club won’t even consider selling even though Costa would like to return to Vicente Calderon.
Costa is though Atletico’s first choice to bolster Diego Simeone’s attacking options and Cholo himself has put Costa ahead of any other option, and has done since Jackson Martinez was sold in the winter window.
Chelsea haven’t just rejected Atletico’s offer but advised the club not to bother making further approaches as they’re simply not interested in selling, and Chelsea’s financial situation is such that they have no imperative to sell.
Antonio Conte, the new Chelsea Coach, wants to make Costa a key part of his team and it is the Italian’s insistence on keeping Costa that is preventing talks with Atletico even though Costa wants to go back to Madrid for the lifestyle as much as the football.
Atletico President Enrique Cerezo had claimed Costa’s return was close, but Marca insist Chelsea won’t budge.
