Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone looks to have dashed Diego Costa’s hopes of a return to the Spanish capital, after he hinted that the club’s pursuit of the striker may be over.
Costa was superb for Chelsea last season, bagging 20 goals and seven assists as the Blues ran out as title winners.
However, after reports of training ground bust-ups and public flirtations with lucrative moves to China throughout the campaign, Antonio Conte’s patience appeared to run out and the striker was told he could leave this summer.
An Atletico return for the Spain international looked to be all but sown up last month, after the combustive striker posted an Instagram video of himself on holiday in Brazil in an Atletico Madrid shirt.