Chelsea striker Diego Costa has accused the club of pricing him out of a move to his former club Atletico Madrid. Costa nearly rejoined Atleti last summer and agitated for a move to China in January.
He has since been told his services are no longer required at Chelsea. The player is on strike and has returned to Brazil. He has accused Chelsea of showing him a lack of respect in demanding a price Atletico cannot afford.
“I’ve demonstrated I care for Atletico and have interest in playing for them,” he told ESPN Brasil. “But if Atletico and Chelsea don’t come to an agreement and Atletico don’t make a big effort, I can’t keep on wanting to play for a club that isn’t going to make a bigger effort to try and sign me.
“I know that this will happen, but if it’s to pay the amount that Chelsea want it won’t be possible. What I know is that this offer Chelsea will get is bigger than what they paid, so I’ve given them something back in all senses.
“My agent said that Chelsea want something that Atletico can’t get near. When we heard that Conte didn’t want me anymore, my agent went to find out if there was interest from Atletico for me coming back.
“Of course for the warmth and respect that I earned there, they showed interest. But they wouldn’t pay a fortune. Atletico is a team growing every year, a big team, but they can’t pay an extraordinary amount.”
