Report: Diego Costa poised to rejoin Atletico Madrid despite transfer ban
Diego Costa is likely to accept the opportunity to rejoin Atletico Madrid this summer, The Telegraph's John Percy reports.
Because of Atletico's transfer ban, which runs until Jan. 1, 2018, the ostracised Chelsea forward would have to miss a significant chunk of first-team football.
But he is still "seriously considering" a switch back to the Spanish capital, according to Percy, due to his current predicament at Chelsea.
Blues manager Antonio Conte informed Costa by text message last month that he's no longer in the Italian's plans, all but ending the Spanish international's three-year stay in west London.
Tension between the player and coach escalated during the winter transfer window, when a mammoth bid from a Chinese club reportedly unsettled Costa. He finished the season on a sour note, scoring just six goals in his final 18 Premier League appearances.
He still has two years remaining on his contract, but considering Conte's stance, the 28-year-old striker is likely to be sold.
Costa has publicly entertained the idea of returning to Atletico, where he played from 2010-14 and won a La Liga title.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Should he reunite with Diego Simeone and Co., Costa would have to skip five months of competitive action. He would have the right to train with Atletico, and could join another team on loan until the ban is served.
With the 2018 World Cup on the horizon and a place on the Spanish national team at stake, Costa has a difficult decision to make.
"I have a contract of two years with Chelsea, they have to decide. If they sell me, I will look for the best choice," Costa said recently.
"Atletico is among them, it would not mean not playing, they can loan me out to some team in Spain, Brazil, or wherever, but I have to play.
"Everyone knows that I have a lot of affection for them. Of course I rule out China, I have to think about the World Cup. Atletico is a club that I have a lot of affection for, independently of whether I go there or not, I will continue to love them."
AC Milan, which is currently undergoing a massive transformation, is also reportedly interested in Costa.