Atletico Madrid president would 'love' Diego Costa return and believes Chelsea will not sell to China

Costa was linked with a return to the La Liga side last summer

Costa was linked with a £30m-a-year move to China in January (Getty)

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo insists Chelsea will not allow Diego Costa to move to China, but would “love” to see him return to the Vicente Calderon.

Costa was heavily linked with a switch to the Chinese Super League in January after a training ground row with manager Antonio Conte, which led to him being dropped and training alone for a week.

The 28-year-old, whose current contract expires in June 2019, wanted to return to Atletico last summer and is rumoured to seek the same move again at the end of the season.

However, Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claimed this week the Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian had reached a pre-contract agreement with Costa, which would see him earn around £25m-a-year.

Those reports have since been denied and Cerezo can’t see Costa following former Chelsea teammate Oscar to China.

"It has been a while since I spoke to him. He is at a great club,” Cerezo told Spanish radio.

"They [media] say he will go to China, but Chelsea will not allow him to leave.

"I would love for Costa to return but it's not easy. He plays for a strong team, a team that is likely to win the Premier League.

"I don't think the big teams will allow their top players to leave."

Atletico are expected to try and re-sign Costa this summer, regardless of Cerezo’s comments about Chelsea’s unwillingness to sell.

The La Liga side are expected to have around £84m to play with should striker Antoine Griezmann join Manchester United in the summer.

Griezmann’s commercial advisor talked up a move to Old Trafford this week, and spoke of his client emulating United great David Beckham by wearing the No 7 shirt.