DIEGO COSTA is set to see out his Atletico Madrid contract until 2021 – before leaving on a free transfer.
The Spain international, 31, has been plagued by injuries since returning to La Liga for an eye watering £67million from Chelsea in 2017.
Diego Costa is set to see out his Atletico Madrid contract until 2021Credit: EPA
Costa famously fired Atletico to LaLiga glory in 2014 with 27 goals before sealing a £32m move to Chelsea that summer.
His time at Stamford Bridge was a huge hit, with Costa winning Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
The Spaniard went on to win the Europa League at the end of the 2017 campaign when he returned to the Wanda Metropolitano.
But has since fallen down the pecking order at Aletico, making just 41 La Liga appearances in two-and-a-half seasons and scoring just seven times.
However, according to Marca, boss Diego Simeone still believes in Costa and the striker’s contract will run for another year before he is set to leave on a free transfer.
In November the Spain international was sidelined after undergoing neck surgery.
The striker was forced to go under the knife to sort out the issue with his herniated cervical disc and he was ruled out for three months in 2018 after breaking a bone in his foot.
read
Costa’s injury problems prompted Simeone to complete a permanent deal for Chelsea loanee Alvaro Morata last summer while also spending a club-record £113m on Benfica and Portugal wonderkid Joao Felix.
The Spaniard has previously been linked with a £25m return to Brazil with Flamengo and with a move to Qatari side Al Rayyan, while there are said to be interested clubs in China.
But it seems for now Costa will remain at Atletico – who are in sixth in LaLiga and trailing rivals Real Madrid by 11 points.
Simon Jordan says Premier League clubs must seize control back from players and agents
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
