Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Chelsea over Diego Costa’s return to Spain.
However, the La Liga club want the Spanish striker to join them during the winter transfer window in January.
And this would pose a huge problem for Chelsea and their manager Antonio Conte, who have made it clear that they do not want the striker at Stamford Bridge.
Wantaway Blues star Diego Costa has made it clear that he will disobey Chelsea orders and fly off to Spain in order to force through a move to Atletico Madrid.
According to Don Balon a deal worth £41.3m (€45m) with a further (€10m in add-ons has been agreed.
Atletico Madrid cannot register new players until January due to a trader embargo.
Barcelona had faced a similar situation when they roped in Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid in the summer but he did not play for the Catalan giants until the New Year.
But Atletico boss Diego Simone is not interested in doing the same in Costa’s case.
However, the Spanish striker wants to make a move now as he wants to seal a place in the Spain national squad for the 2018 World Cup next summer – and he has made it clear that his heart his set at a return to Atletico Madrid.
FootTheBall had earlier reported that Premier League champions Chelsea had given Diego Costa four conditions to fulfill before the club bosses will consider selling him.
ALSO READ: Diego Costa Reveals He Will Disobey Chelsea Orders By Heading To Spain To Force Atletico Madrid Move
The Blues bosses had given the Spaniard the ultimatum as he did not return to London and showed no interest in playing for the club.
ALSO READ: Diego Costa Given Four Demands By Chelsea Before Club Will Consider Selling Him To Atletico Madrid
The Blues hierarchy had given Costa four conditions before they would consider his demand of a move to Atletico:
He must return to Cobham.
Costa must return to training.
He must prove his match fitness.
And Costa must put him into contention for a first-team place.
But in a statement, Costa has now said: “My destination has already been decided. I must return to Atletico Madrid.”
“It turns out that there is the impasse that Chelsea do not want to release me.”
“But I believe that this situation will be resolved now on my return to Spain.”
Wantaway Blues star Diego Costa had also claimed that he is being treated like a “criminal” by Chelsea.
No Turning Back To #Chelsea!#ftb #foottheball #football #AtleticoMadrid #DiegoCosta pic.twitter.com/K1Z1QW87tN
— FootTheBall⚽ (@FootTheBall) August 17, 2017
Costa has also launched a legal case against Chelsea over his pending exit from Stamford Bridge.
Earlier last week, Costa’s lawyer Ricardo Cardoso had threatened the Blues of legal action regarding the treatment of the Spaniard – mainly for blocking his anticipated return to La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
ALSO READ: Diego Costa Opens Legal Case Against Chelsea Over His Pending Exit From Stamford Bridge
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Costa had accentuated that he is being held against his will as he desperately wants to join his former club Atletico Madrid.
He had said: “I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. Why won’t they let me go if they don’t want me?”
“My desire is to go to Atletico. I’ve spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, ‘If the manager doesn’t want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid.”
“They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys. I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.”
ALSO READ: Diego Costa Left In Limbo As Diego Simeone Rules Out Atletico Madrid Return For Chelsea Outcast
But Blues boss Antonio Conte laughed off Diego Costa’s claims that Chelsea have treated him like a “criminal.”
Conte could not contain his amusement, laughed for nearly a minute in front of the TV cameras and also insisted Costa is now “in the past” for the club after his public outbursts.
When asked about the “criminal” remarks, Conte said: “It’s great. I prefer to laugh.
“I can tell you that everyone [who] was in Chelsea knows very well what happened last season with Diego. It’s funny, this interview.
“No. I’m not interested to continue this issue. I repeat: for me, it is in the past.”
Costa, who has not returned to Chelsea and is training alone in Brazil have slammed Antonio Conte of dismissing him via a text message.
Costa’s summer so far has seen him clowning around in a multi-coloured wig, driving quad bikes, training on a beach alone and partying in an Atletico Madrid shirt.
Costa has been fined £300,000 after failing to report for training two weeks ago.
And now Spanish club Atletico Madrid have reportedly offered to pay his fine once he joins his former club.
ALSO READ: Wantaway Star Diego Costa Clowns Around In A Wig As His Enforced Chelsea Exile Continues
Costa was expected to return to London to work on his fitness ahead of a move – but now the Spaniard has made it clear that he will not head back to Chelsea and instead he will fly off to Spain in a bid to force through his move to Atletico.
Reports yesterday also claimed that La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna are willing to rope in Costa on a short-term loan until January.
ALSO READ: Chelsea To Pay Atletico-Bound Diego Costa £185,000-A-Week Until JANUARY As Striker Snubs Milan Move
And that would allow Atletico Madrid to sign him in the new year.
Another possible way out is for him to join Atletico now and spend the next few months training on his own.
Diego Simeone’s side can still buy new players but they cannot register them due to a Fifa transfer embargo which will end in January 2018.
ALSO READ: Diego Costa Trains On A Beach In Brazil As He As He Steps Up Summer Exit From Chelsea
