Chelsea News: Transfer rebel Diego Costa might not even get games for Atletico Madrid

DIEGO COSTA is not guaranteed a start for Atletico Madrid when he completes his move from Chelsea in January.

Chelsea news Diego CostaGETTY

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will join Atletico Madrid in January

Costa has signed a contract at Atletico but cannot be fully registered until the transfer window opens in the New Year.

He move will end a long-running transfer saga that saw him go on strike in Brazil over pre-season.

Chelsea have moved on without Costa, who is now training with Atletico’s first-team squad in order to be match fit for January.

But Atletico manager Diego Simeone says the 28-year-old may struggle to get into his current side, as will winger Vitolo when he returns from his Las Palmas loan spell.

“Diego Costa was the chosen player to help return us to the top,” Simeone told newspaper El Larguero.

“A different player of that quality we perhaps could not afford to pay but the fans are eager to see the same Costa who left us.

“He brings everything: goals, hard work, effort and leadership.

“That being said, I believe Costa and Vitolo will find it difficult to get into our team especially when I look at the players we already have – everyone will have to earn their place.”

Atletico were unable to sign Costa in the summer as they were under a FIFA-imposed transfer embargo that prevented them fielding newly registered players until 2018.

That meant Antoine Griezmann agreed to remain at the club as they couldn’t sign a replacement.

Gianfranco Zola praises Antonio Conte's handling of Diego Costa

However, Costa’s arrival in January could spell the end of Griezmann’s Atletico career, with Manchester United eyeing up the striker for next term.

And Simeone remained coy when asked if the January transfer window would see more new players coming in.

“More January transfers? I would not close the door on anything, arrivals or departures,” he added on El Legarto.

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