UK Edition
Chelsea leave Diego Costa out of Champions League squad but Zlatan Ibrahimovic features for Man Utd
Chelsea have not named AWOL striker Diego Costa in their Champions League squad, despite including him in their Premier League party.
Costa is not in Chelsea’s 24-man squad in Europe, which ensures the striker will not be cup-tied in the competition if he does secure a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Atletico Madrid left Costa in limbo last Friday night after failing to agree a deal for the 28-year-old by the Spanish transfer deadline, meaning Chelsea is the only club he can play for before the January transfer window opens.
But there is no chance of Costa facing the club he wants to join, with Chelsea scheduled to meet Atletico in Group C, in Madrid on September 27 and at home on December 5.
Having refused to return from Brazil since last season, Chelsea’s decision to include Costa in their 25-man Premier League squad means the club cannot be accused of preventing him from playing.
The Blues remain insistent that Costa must return from Brazil to train to make himself available for selection. But even if he did, it is expected it would take him some time to regain match fitness after missing all of pre-season.
Costa’s Chelsea team-mate and former Atletico colleague Thibaut Courtois poked fun at his situation by posing a picture on Twitter of the pair holding the Premier League trophy with the message ‘Se Queda’, which means ‘staying’.
The phrase became famous this summer, when it was used by Barcelona’s Gerard Pique along with a picture of him and Neymar in July. The Brazilian subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have found room for the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their squad for the group stages though he is not expected to featured.
The Swede scored 27 goals in all competitions for United last term after signing on a free transfer, but was released after suffering a serious knee injury.
Jose Mourinho took the decision to re-sign Ibrahimovic last month, despite the fine form of summer signing Romelu Lukaku, but the former Barcelona and Juventus striker is not expected to return until the new year.
"I am not thinking Zlatan will play any part in the group phase," Mourinho said.
"I don't think there is any chance of that. Do we have space in the Champions League list to have him? Yes, we have.
"Hopefully he can play in the knockout phase but for that we need to finish top two."