Colossal €460m transfer effort ends with Chelsea deal, and more could be on way

The Spanish media reported on Diego Costa’s return from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid for years before it actually happened.

Claims of Costa being unhappy and wanting a Chelsea exit, and rojiblancos return, started not long after the Brazilian moved to the Premier League.

There’s been so many articles published on the subject in Spain that it was probably for the best things didn’t come to a shuddering halt, sudden withdrawal could have led to difficult side effects.

In their Wednesday edition, Marca add up all the money Atletico Madrid have received and spent on forwards since Diego Simeone took over.

It reaches a colossal €460m, and shows the revolving doors in the Atletico attack. Simeone has struggled to find what he really wants, and that’s why getting Costa back from Chelsea has been so important for the Madrid club.

But despite Simeone now having what he’ll likely see as the perfect Atletico attack, with Antoine Griezmann and Costa, there’s more upheaval on the way, as the Frenchman could be leaving next summer.

Still, it’s unlikely Costa will consider going anywhere for the foreseeable future, after he spent a summer hiding from Chelsea in Brazil and doing anything possible to avoid having to return to London.