Soccer Transfer Rumors & News: Atletico Madrid Could Lose Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea
Atletico Madrid had their best season in club history, but their success this season could also signal the end of their partnership with key players Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois.
Multiple reported indicated that Costa will likely be heading to Chelsea this summer via a £32-million deal, while Courtois will likely head back to Stamford Bridge as well.
Earlier this month, Costa revealed that there are offers for a possible move this summer, including the rumored deal between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin sounded like he is anticipating that Costa will leave the club, but he insisted that the decision on whether to stay with the club or move to England will still be made by their star striker.
"We'll try and make sure that all of the relevant players stay here. We've made a very aggressive approach for Diego to stay and we want to keep this dream going but it all depends on him," Marin said.
Courtois' situation is a different from Costa's situation because Chelsea has the right to force the goalkeeper to return to Stamford Bridge after the three-year loan agreement between the two clubs ended.
Although the ball is not on Atletico Madrid and Courtois' hands, the 22-year-old goalkeeper expressed hope that he will be allowed to continue playing with the Spanish club next season.
"I don't have an emotional link to Chelsea," Courtois said. "I have nothing against them. It is just that I have this bond with Atletico after all I have lived through with the club these last three seasons."
Before their Champions League final showdown against Real Madrid on Saturday, Courtois also said that putting him and Chelsea main goalkeeper Petr Cech on one team is not the right thing to do.
"I have the biggest respect for Petr Cech," Courtois said. "I think he was named as the best goalkeeper of the Premier League, so he is still at a great level. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world so I think putting him and me in the same team is not the healthiest thing in the world."
Aside from Costa and Courtois, ESPN FC also reported that Atletico Madrid could also lose David Villa, Jose Sosa, Tiago Mendes, Cristian Rodriguez, Diego Ribas, and reserve goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia this summer.
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