MX23RW : Tuesday, November 12 19:39:30| >> :120:22639:22639:

Atletico Madrid's Enrique Cerezo: 'Never any plans to re-sign Diego Costa'

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo insists that the club were never interested in re-signing Diego Costa from Chelsea this summer.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has rubbished rumours that the club were planning to re-sign Diego Costa from Chelsea.

At the end of last season, it was reported that Costa wanted to return to Spain after a frustrating campaign that ended in a 10th-place finish in the Premier League.

Antonio Conte, who was appointed as Jose Mourinho's successor, recently claimed that his striker is "very happy" to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Now, Cerezo has claimed that there was never an option of Costa returning to the Vicente Calderon this summer.

"There was never a Diego Costa transfer saga," Cerezo told Marca. "Diego has a contract with Chelsea and is part of manager Antonio Conte's squad. We are on friendly terms with Chelsea and see them as our friends.

"Diego is also a friend and a true Atletico man, but his place is at Chelsea now and I am sure he will be successful there. We like Diego for everything that he has done for us and he knows Atletico will always be his home, but there won't be new acquisitions beyond our budget."

Costa faces a fight for his place in the team following the signing of Michy Batshuayi, and the club are reportedly still pursuing Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

ID:278171: cacheID:278171:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2765:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Diego Costa is unhappy with a missed chance during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City on April 16, 2016
Read Next:
Antonio Conte unsure on Diego Costa future
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!