Chelsea striker wants summer transfer to Atletico Madrid even though he’d be banned from playing until January

Diego Costa wants to re-join Atletico Madrid.John Walton / PA Wire / PA Images

Chelsea striker Diego Costa reportedly wants to return to his former club Atletico Madrid this summer.

Costa’s haul of 52 goals in 89 matches helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles over the past three seasons.

But the €83.4 million (£73.5 million)-rated player claimed earlier this month that he was “told by message” that his services are surplus requirements at Chelsea.

Sky Sports report that there is only one club Costa would be interested in joining — and that club is Atletico.

Atletico, though, is currently banned from registering new players until January after breaking rules introduced to prevent the child trafficking of youth footballers.

Diego Costa played under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid before joining Chelsea in 2014.Clive Rose / Getty Images

Costa could join Atletico but he would not be allowed to compete for manager Diego Simeone’s side until FIFA’s transfer ban expires in January. Until then, Costa’s involvement with Atletico would be limited to the training ground.

Earlier this month, Costa had been linked with a £40 million move to AC Milan and even a £76 million switch to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjin.