WANTAWAY Diego Costa could face a £23MILLION penalty if Atletico agree to rip up the striker’s contract and he joins Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The ex-Spain and Chelsea star, 32, reportedly wants his deal, ending next summer, terminated early for “personal reasons”.
Diego Costa has struggled with fitness this season and is understood to want to leave Atletico Madrid, midway through the final season of his contractCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Former Spain and Chelsea frontman Diego Costa has netted twice in five games for LaLiga leaders Atletico this seasonCredit: Reuters
But if Costa does depart the LaLiga leaders in the January transfer window, joining an elite rival might hit him in the pocket.
Spanish radio station Cadena Cope claim he would need to pay Atletico £23m in the unlikely event of him joining one of three big LaLiga rivals – Real, Barcelona or Sevilla.
They also say he would need to hand over £4.5m if a different “Champion team” signed him.
And to link up with any other club, it is understood Costa would still have to pay £2.9m.
Marca suggest “the ball is now in the club’s court”, and ‘they will sit down to talk” with the 24-cap targetman, who is in his third spell with Atletico.
Costa has managed just 204 minutes this season, albeit scoring twice, after struggling with muscle injuries, deep vein thrombosis and a blood clot in his leg.
ESPN reports Costa has been “absent from training with permission” as he pushes for his exit.
Atletico might well be willing to offload him – but would surely need a replacement as 33-year-old Luis Suarez is currently their only other established No9.
Diego Costa was allowed to miss Atletico training and has suffered a string of injury and fitness problemsCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
Diego Costa shows what he is made of in Atletico Madrid training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
