Official: Atlético Madrid announce Diego Costa deal
The outcast Chelsea striker has secured his move back to Atlético from Chelsea with the Colchoneros reaching initial agreement for the €60m striker.
After months of negotiations Atlético Madrid have announced an initial agreement confirming a deal to buy former striker Diego Costa back from Chelsea for a fee expected to be in the region of 60 million euros.
The Spain international is due to undergo a medical on Thursday and will be officially unveiled as an Atlético player in the next few days. Costa will not be able to play for the club until January, when a Fifa-imposed ban on registering new players expires, but he will join up with the Atlético squad and train under the orders of Diego Simeone to regain his fitness after an extended spell out of action.
Costa eligible for Champions League
Costa was frozen out at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea manager Antonio Conteand has spent the past few months in his hometown of Lagarto in Brazil, refusing to return to London and train with the reserves. Chelsea also left Costa out of their Champions League squad so that he will be eligible to represent Atlético if the Madrid side make it past the group stage. Now, after protracted discussions with the Premier League club, Costa is one the verge of sealing a move back to his former club, which he made clear is the only place he was willing to move to.