Costa Considering Atletico Exit

Reports in Italy claim Diego Costa is assessing his options as he considers a move away from Atletico Madrid next summer. The Brazil-born Spain international has struggled to settle since returning to Atletico in January 2018.

After helping the club to win the league title in his previous stint in the capital, Diego Simeone was hoping Costa could boost their chances once again.

However, injuries have kept Costa on the sidelines for large periods and he has found the back of the net on just six occasions in the league.

Related: Costa Handed Eight-Game Ban

Summer signing Joao Felix has been Atleti’s highest-scoring forward this term, bagging twice, while Alvaro Morata has scored once.

So it’s no surprise Costa has been heavily linked with an exit from the Wanda Metropolitano when the season ends, having been linked with Everton over the summer.

Reports in Italy suggest Costa will have no shortage of options and a lucrative deal in China or Qatar could be on the cards.

Simeone is unlikely to allow the 30-year-old to move on during the winter window because he would find it tough to recruit a replacement.

The Argentinian is yet to give up hope on the player that has given so much to the club and recently admitted they are working hard to address his lack of goals.

Simeone said: “We’ve been working a lot with Diego in how he himself feels about and how we think he can improve. It’s an individual issue rather than a team one, and we’re hoping to fix a situation which is unusual for a player like him”.