Ever controversial Chelsea striker Diego Costa has reaffirmed his determination to rejoin his former club, Atletico Madrid.
Although the La Liga club are subject to a transfer ban preventing them from registering players until January, the Spanish international who already has a strained relationship with his manager at Stamford Bridge, Antonio Conte wants to keep faith with his first love.
Costa has not played for Chelsea since the FA Cup final in May, following which he claims Conte sent him a text telling him he was not in his plans for the new season.
The Brazilian-born Spaniard who joined Chelsea from Atletico in 2014, has accused the Premier League club of treating him like a “criminal” and has said he was willing to see out the remaining two years of his deal unpaid in Brazil.
“My destination is already set,” Costa was quoted as saying by Brazilian newspaper O Globo. “I must return to Atletico Madrid next season.”
The situation is complicated by the fact that Atletico are currently banned from signing players in this window although a loan deal would be possible.
The club have been handed a two-window FIFA transfer ban for signing minors.
“It turns out that there is the impasse that Chelsea does not want to release me,” added Costa. “But I believe this situation will be resolved now on my return to Spain.”
