Chelsea have agreed a deal to sell Diego Costa back to Atletico Madrid, according to news on the club’s official site,
It brings to an end one of the most difficult and protracted transfer sagas of recent times, with Costa refusing to return to London following a text message from Antonio Conte that informed the Spanish international that he wasn’t needed at Stamford Bridge any more.
Marca reported earlier today that €55m (£48.5m) will be paid up front by the Spanish club, with a further ten possible in add ons, although this has not yet been confirmed by Chelsea or Atletico.
It’s significantly more than the €40m that was originally rumoured, which represents a victory for the Blues hierarchy, who held out for more money even as the transfer window closed. Costa’s holdout in Brazil was not able to force Chelsea into a cheap sale in the end.
Goodbye Diego, and thanks for the two titles.
