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03/28/2024 10:29:53 pm

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Football Transfer Rumors: Atletico Madrid wants Chelsea's Diego Costa Back in La Liga

Chelsea striker Diego Costa

(Photo : Getty Images) Chelsea striker Diego Costa. Costa is being targeted by Atletico Madrid this summer, according to club president Enrique Cerezo.

Spanish footballer Diego Costa is reportedly being targeted by his former club, La Liga's Atletico Madrid, this summer at a still undisclosed transfer fee, according to club president Enrique Cerezo.

"We have a magnificent relationship with the players who leave this club. He (Costa) is a magnificent player but he is a Chelsea player," Cerezo said, as reported by the Mirror. "We will do everything possible and let's see what Chelsea say, because it does not depend on us."

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"We always try to bring in the best players and Diego is one of those," he added.

The 27-year-old striker had two stints with Los Colchoneros with the first one from 2007 to 2009, mainly playing on loan for Segunda Division teams Celta de Vigo and Albacete Balompié, while the second is from 2010 to 2014, where he also played one season (2011-2012) on loan to Rayo Vallecano.

Overall, he had appeared in 119 games and scored 54 goals for Atleti's first team, leading the club to a La Liga title, Copa Del Rey trophy, one Champions League final, and two UEFA Super Cups. He played 16 matches and scored 10 times during his short stint with Rayo.

Los Rojiblancos tried to offer Colombian striker Jackson Martinez and some cash to Chelsea during the recently closed winter transfer window in exchange for Costa, but it was rejected by the reigning English Premier League champs. Martinez ended up signing with Chinses Super League squad Guangzhou Evergrande for a then Chinese transfer record of €42 million.

Cerezo also expressed his desire to sign marquee players in the coming 2016 summer transfer window as "two windows without being able to sign players is a long time for a club such as ours" and that they "want to be on top, to win and to be in Europe," as per ESPN.

Costa joined Chelsea in July 2014 after the Blues paid Atleti his £32 million buyout clause. He is now in his second season with the club and is instrumental in leading them to the Premier League title last season, scoring 20 times in 26 domestic top flight matches.

The Brazilian-born Spanish had been struggling this season for the Stamford Bridge residents, scoring only nine goals in 21 appearances so far.

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