Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has extended an arm to Chelsea outcast and former Rojiblancos hero Diego Costa after publicly expressing hope that the controversial striker will return to the club when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Costa had been pining for a move to Atletico, with whom he spent four years from 2010 to 2014, ever since being coldly informed by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in June that he would be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge this season.
The striker then returned to his family home in Brazil and refused to return to London when pre-season began, accusing the Premier League club of treating him like a 'criminal'.