Diego Costa relaxes on the beach with a cold beer on his birthday weekend as striker takes a break from gruelling Atletico Madrid training programme

• e-mail

Diego Costa took some time out from his Atletico Madrid fitness programme by cracking open a cold beer on a Spanish beach.

The striker celebrated his 29th birthday this weekend and was pictured treating himself to a beer while he relaxed over the international break.

Costa has been put through his paces by Atletico's coaches this week in a bid to get back to match fitness before January, when he will be permitted to play.

Diego Costa enjoys a beer as he takes a break from his Atletico Madrid training programme

The striker sported some spotty underwear as he relaxed on the beach in Spain on Sunday

Costa is unable to play for Atletico until January due to the Spanish club's transfer ban

His return to Atletico was confirmed last month after the Spanish side finally reached an agreement with Chelsea in a deal worth £57million.

But while he is able to train with his new side, Atletico cannot register Costa to play for them until 2018 due to the club's transfer ban. 

Costa was videoed last week struggling for breath after performing an intensive workout under the watchful eye of notorious Atletico coach Oscar 'Profe' Ortega. 

Costa was spotted gasping for air after being through his paces by Atletico's fitness coach

The striker has returned to Atletico after the Spanish side reached an agreement with Chelsea 

The striker is undergoing the fitness regime away from the rest of Diego Simeone's squad following months without organised sessions, though he has also trained alongside his team-mates.

After receiving a text from Chelsea manager Antonio Conte informing him he was no longer in his plans, Costa went into self-imposed exile back in his Brazilian hometown of Lagarto.

Costa refused to report to training at Cobham and told Sportsmail he was being treated 'like a criminal' by his former club after playing a pivotal role in their Premier League title win in 2016-17.

Costa has returned to Atletico where he won a Spanish league title in the 2013-14 season

A stand-off which lasted for more than three months was finally ended when Chelsea reached an agreement to sell him back to Atletico on September 21.

The 29-year-old previously spent six years as an Atletico player across two separate spells and won a La Liga title with the Madrid club in 2013-14.

Costa's fitness issues have seen him miss out on the Spain squad for their latest round of World Cup qualifiers. He last featured for his adopted country back in June.