Atletico Madrid can't register new players until January 2018 but the case of Diego Costa remains a priority both for the club and the striker. That's because Chelsea return to pre-season training on July 3 and Antonio Conte has already made it clear that Costa isn't welcome at Cobham, the Blues' training base in Surrey. There is a distance between the coach and the footballer that is absolute, and came about ever since the Spanish-Brazilian received a text message informing him that he was no longer required.
Costa didn't hesitate to make this information public in order to try and facilitate his arrival at Atletico, lowering his purchase price in the meantime.
However, before the signing of any contract, there are still many other intermediate steps that will need to be taken. The principal issue has to do with his destiny during the first five months of competition. He does not want to belong to a team in which he has to adapt but is then going to leave in a matter of months.
The most likely option is joining Atletico and focusing on physical preparation until the new year when he can play an official match with the rojiblancos. This move has an important handicap for the striker because after so long without playing a match, he may not reach his best version.
Spain coach, Julen Lopetegui, tried to reassure him and made it clear that the option that would most distract him from Russia was to emigrate to the Chinese League.
So, if both Costa and Conte want to save a mess, Atletico and Chelsea will have to accelerate negotiations. Time is running out but a week is more than enough time to reach an agreement. Costa, meanwhile, continues to enjoy a holiday with his family in Lagarto, his birthplace.