:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56310889/689820248.0.jpg)
Suddenly very talkative Diego Costa has been telling his sob-story to any media outlet willing to give him five minutes of their time, but he doesn’t seem any closer to actually resolving his situation. He remains AWOL from Chelsea, continuously fined his weekly wages, while engaging in a war of words with the club. Rumors of a transfer fee agreement between Chelsea and Atletico did spring up in Spain over the weekend, but they appear to be nothing but more than further fabrications from the Spanish media.
Since Atlético don’t seem to be anywhere near near as interested in getting Diego back as Diego is in going back, other options may have to be considered. AC Milan and even Everton were brought up as possibilities earlier, and now there could be a third. As an admirer of Diego’s “character” and “tenacity”, Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud believes the 28-year-old would fit quite well at his club. Although for that to happen, they would have to figure out how to break their €30 million upper limit for transfers.
“What I like a lot about this player is of course his character, his tenacity and his fight. That is something that would go very well with us here at Marseille. Aside from that, there is a complicated contractual situation, I think, and discussions that have occurred between clubs…”
“I will pick up what [Marseille owner] Frank McCourt said. If a player ticks all the boxes, then we have shown that we are capable to do deals up to €30m. If a player ticks all the boxes, why not? There have to at least be a certain number of conditions. Nothing is impossible.”
-Jacques-Henri Eyraud; source: SFR Sport via Get French Football News
In the meantime, Diego continues his rebellion. He recently called in movers for his house in Surrey, which already had the utilities turned off, to reinforce his stance on not returning to Cobham only to train with the reserves.
That said, time is running out for Diego who cannot afford being unfit for an entire half-season if he truly intends to participate in the World Cup with the Spanish national team. Chelsea have already shown that they will not be “strong-armed” towards a transfer like an Arsenal defender giving up chances on match day; and our resolve could very well be his fall from grace.