Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has ruled out Chelsea forward Diego Costa’s possible return to the Vicente Calderon stadium this summer.
The arrival of Michy Batshuayi at Chelsea from Marseille has led to reports in England and Spain that Costa, who has scored 36 goals in 77 games since joining Chelsea in 2014, could move back to Atletico, a team he helped capture the Primera Liga title, a Copa del Rey and two Super Cups in his four years with the club.
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New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said the Spain international will stay put, describing him as a player of "fundamental importance" and now Cerezo has ruled out his return.
Costa is under contract at Chelsea until June 2019.
“He is a great player, who is very much loved, but he is a Chelsea player,” Cerezo said.
“The issue is as it was six months ago or even a year ago, he is a Chelsea player.
“I’ve always said that Costa is a Chelsea player and has a contract with Chelsea. That’s the end of this issue.
“The day we have a No 9 we will announce it. We are looking for one and once we have him, we will announce it.”
Costa, 27, was handed a start for Conte’s first match in charge, a 2-0 pre-season defeat to Rapid Vienna on Saturday.
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