Chelsea striker Diego Costa is a 'really good player' and Atletico Madrid want the best, says club president

Admirer: Enrique Cerezo has talked up a move for Diego Costa (pictured)
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj15 July 2016

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has suggested the club would be interested in bringing Chelsea striker Diego Costa back to the Vicente Calderon after labelling the 27-year-old as a "really good player".

Chelsea signed Costa from Atletico in a £32million deal in 2014 after the striker helped Diego Simeone's side win their first La Liga title in 18 years while also helping the team reach the Champions League final, which they lost to rivals Real Madrid.

His arrival at Stamford Bridge subsequently proved crucial in Chelsea winning the Premier League trophy last year, with Costa ending the 2014/15 season with 20 goals.

But after a difficult campaign that saw Chelsea finish in 10th place and Costa overcome a poor start to end with 12 league goals, the Brazilian-born Spain international has been regularly linked with a return back to Atletico - although Chelsea are unlikely to sell their first-choice forward without first replacing him.

Cerezo, though, remains an admirer of Costa and admitted the striker is the kind of player Atletico would consider signing this summer.

"We're looking for a new striker, and we always like to get the biggest players we can," Cerezo said after the 2016/17 La Liga fixtures were announced on Friday.

"Costa played for us for a few years and he's a really good player, no one can deny that.

"I don't know if Costa has spoken to Conte, but we're working to hard bring the best players to Atleti."

Chelsea 2016/17 pre-season fixtures

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