Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was heavily linked with a move back to his former club Atletico Madrid during the summer but a move failed to materialise. He was again linked with a move to China in January after a bust-up with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

Costa has now admitted he tried to force a move back to Atletico Madrid in the summer but he also insisted he won’t fight to move back to Atletico Madrid in the future.

“Atletico knows I have a special feeling for the team, I lived the best moment of my career there,” Costa told radio station El Larguero.

“El Cholo [Diego Simeone] knows it wasn’t impossible for me to come back to Atletico.

“The relationship with Conte didn’t start well because when he arrived, I told him I wanted to go to Atletico. Chelsea fans love me a lot, even more than in Atletico, imagine!

“I’ve done everything to come to Atletico but it did not happen. I’ve done everything to return to Atletico Madrid but I would not fight like that to return (in the future). When Atletico had to wait, they did not wait. There was still a month to go [until the end of transfer window] and they didn’t have the patience.”