Diego Costa to Real Madrid: Seven reasons why Chelsea have not offered their striker for a transfer

Reports suggest that Chelsea have offered Diego Costa to Real Madrid just a year after signing him

Chelsea striker Diego Costa’s hamstring injury will keep him on the sidelines until early next month (AFP)

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has reportedly "been offered" to Real Madrid by the Premier League champions just a year after moving to the Premier League.

The revelation has come from Spanish journalist Francois Gallardo, who told El Chiringuito that Costa is unhappy with life in London and that the Blues have contacted the La Liga giants to discuss a summer transfer.

However, despite Gallardo’s claims that Costa could return to Spain just one season after completing a £32m move to Chelsea, it’s very unlikely that a Costa will be going anywhere this summer. Here’s why.

Costa has already said he is happy in London

Costa spoke during Chelsea’s post-season tour of Australia to stress his happiness at Chelsea, stating “I have no reason to leave this place, I love it, the fans love me and I want to stay”. To grow unhappy with life after being the top goalscorer in a Premier League-winning season is unheard of, and the striker’s word has to be taken as true as this stage with no signs of him pushing for a move.

Costa says he is happy at Chelsea

Chelsea have stressed that he will not be sold

Jose Mourinho has also spoken of Costa’s happiness at Stamford Bridge and joked that if this is him unhappy, then that makes him happy. Chelsea have no intentions of selling one of their key assets that clinched a first Premier League trophy in five years, and at 26 years old, he’s likely to have his best years ahead of him.

Mourinho stresses that he will not be sold

Costa has instantly grown into a fans’ favourite

If you travelled to Stamford Bridge towards the start of last season, you would have noticed a new banner where the Matthew Harding stand meets the East Stand, displaying very clearly “Diego Costa The Guv’Nor”. Fans quickly took to Costa’s all-action and aggressive style and cheered his every touch, and he quickly repaid them with 20 goals in just 26 Premier League appearances.

Costa with Chelsea fans on their post-season tour

Chelsea are primed to challenge for the Champions League

With the Premier League title in the bag and a couple of big name signings on the horizon, Chelsea are determined to fight for the European crown once again. Having quenched Roman Abramovich’s thirst for the Champions League in 2012, the Blues are eager to return to the top of the three, not least Mourinho whose previous successes came with Porto and Inter Milan – but not Chelsea. If they are to have any chance of European glory, Costa must remain among the squad.

Chelsea want to win a second Champions League crown

His allegiance with the Atletico fans would be destroyed

Costa forged a similar rapport with the fans at Atletico Madrid after firing them to their first La Liga title in 18 years before departing for Chelsea, and given that the Blues activated his release clause, the Atletico faithful knew they had little chance of holding on to the Brazilian-born Spain international. Because of this, the fans still hold him in high esteem, but a move to arch-rivals Real Madrid would destroy that relationship instantly, and would see him booed and jeered relentlessly on his eventual return to the Vicente Calderon.

Costa left Atletico Madrid to join Chelsea

Costa would have to play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo

Everyone knows that Cristiano Ronaldo is the top dog at the Santiago Bernabeu – just ask Gareth Bale. The addition of Costa to an already combustible squad that self-imploded under Mourinho has the potential to seriously unsettle the squad. Ronaldo is being linked with taking a more central role under new manager Rafael Benitez should Karim Benzema leave and allowing Gareth Bale to move to the left flank. Should Costa join, there would need to be quite a shake-up at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo takes centre stage at Real

Gallardo has previous for this…

Francois Gallardo – the Spanish journalist claiming Chelsea have offered Costa to Real – is a bit of a character. He was the source of the rumours that claimed Lionel Messi was on his way out of Barcelona last year. A treble late, Messi seems pretty happy at the Nou Camp.