Atletico Madrid rule out move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has ruled out to making a new move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa after confirmed that Los Colchoneros have already concluded their transfer summer overhaul. The club chief says that the Spanish striker will be always welcomed at the Vicente Calderon but his present now is at Stamford Bridge.

Costa, 27, has been heavily linked with a return to Diego Simeone's side since the beginning of the current mercato. The speculations increased last week after Costa posted a message on his Instagram account, where he appeared to say goodbye to his Chelsea teammates after not being used in the friendly against Liverpool.

AS reported the striker had even made a phone call to Simeone to ask the manager to wait for him amid reports then claiming that Atletico were considering signing Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla as his alternative. The Spanish publication suggested that the striker was ready to force his move away from Chelsea after Atletico had launched a €60m (£50.9m, $66.8m) to lure him back to the Calderon, just two years after they sold him to the Blues for €20m less.

Atletico appeared to end the saga on the weekend when announced the signing of Gameiro in a deal worth around €32m, plus add-ons.

However, Antonio Conte reopened it once again only a day later after refused to confirm that Costa will continue at Stamford Bridge following the defeat to Real Madrid despite he had previously claimed that the striker was going nowhere.

Reports in Spain claimed then that the relationship between Costa and the Italian bossed had broken after the player tried to force his move to Atletico Madrid.

Yet, Conte has since played down those suggestions, changing once again his speech to claim that Costa is expected to stay while starting the Spaniard in the latest 3-1 victory over AC Milan.

The Atletico Madrid president has now ended the saga during an interview with Marca after claiming that following the signing of Gameiro they are not going to sign any more players not least because they don't want to and because La Liga don't allow them to spend more after having also signed Nico Gaitan, Sime Vrsaljko, Diogo Jota and goalkeeper Axel Werner.

"Kevin Gameiro is the kind of player we like to sign. He was our principle, our only objective. We're delighted he's at Atletico. He's a great professional, a professional scorer, decisive in the trophies he won with Sevilla. He scored 30 goals last season. The move was easy, he wanted to come and we're delighted he's here. I'm sure he'll succeed," Cerezo said while adding. "We've signed what we needed, with Cholo's agreement. We didn't spend more than we have. The signings have ended because the LFP will not allow us to make any more, there won't be any more."

Cerezo has previously claimed that Atletico were going to make every effort to sign the Chelsea star ahead of next season.

However, when asked about why they have finally given up on the Spaniard he said: "There wasn't a soap opera. He has a contract with Chelsea and he's in Antonio Conte's team. Chelsea are our friends, and a great friend and Diego Costa is an Atletico but he's Chelsea, where I'm sure he'll triumph. We love Diego for what he has given us and he knows where his home is."