Ancelotti gives Napoli green light to move for Diego Costa
Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti has given the club the thumbs up to open negotiations with Atlético Madrid for Diego Costa, reports Italian media.
On the same day that Inter Milan-bound Diego Godín announced he would leave Atlético Madrid at the end of the season after nine years, another Diego from the Atléti squad has been linked with a move to Serie A.
Gazzetto dello Sport reports this Tuesday that Diego Costa is a target of Carlos Ancelotti’s Napoli. The newspaper claims that Ancelloti has given his ok to the board to open negotiations for the 31-year-old Spanish international.
Although Atlético coach Simeone is an admirer of Costa, the club would be willing to listen to offers for the Spanish striker, whose representatives would also be open to the possibility of a switch to Italy.
Costa’s Atlético return has not gone as expected
Costa returned to Atlético in January 2018 from Chelsea after three-and-a-half seasons in England, with the Madrid club buying him back for 66 million euros -- 24 million more than the 38 million The Blues had paid for his services in 2014.
But his return to Los Rojiblancos has not been as successful as had been expected. The Spaniard has scored just 12 goals in 44 games across all competitions since his January 2018 return.
And on top of having missed two months earlier this season after undergoing a foot operation, Costa was handed an eight-match ban for verbally abusing the referee against Barcelona at Camp Nou in April, meaning he would play no further part this season.
Ancelloti is looking to strengthen his team this summer as Napoli look to mount a serious title challenge to Juventus next season. And Gazzetto dello Sport points out that Costa would bring some much-needed experience for both their league and Champions League campaign.