By AFPMore by this AuthorLONDONDiego Costa has been permitted by Premier League champions Chelsea to miss the start of pre-season training on Monday, fuelling speculation he is set to rejoin Atletico Madrid. The 28-year-old Brazil-born Spanish international is still keen on a return to Atletico despite them not being allowed to field new players until January because of a transfer ban. Costa enjoyed a fractious relationship with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte last season despite scoring 20 goals in 35 league appearances in Chelsea's title-winning campaign. Indeed the player revealed last month the Italian had texted him to say he was no longer part of his plans. Costa — whose contract runs till 2019 — caught the eye in his four-year spell at Atletico before joining Chelsea for £32million in 2014.

Source: Daily Nation July 10, 2017 14:26 UTC