Atlético Madrid president ‘optimistic’ about Diego Costa deal, not worried about fitness issues

Diego Costa has spent the last three months telling anyone bored enough to listen about how Atlético Madrid are the only team he’s willing join at this point, and it looks like he finally just might get his wish in the dying moments of the transfer window.

Rumors over the past couple days about a £40m+ agreement between the two clubs have really picked up steam — in both Spain and England — with Chelsea somehow managing apparently to wrangle something closer to our initial valuation of £50m out of Atlético. Considering that they were initially wiling to offer only up to £26m, anything around £40m should be considered a major win for Chelsea.

For Atléti, the deal won’t bear fruit until January, which is when they are allowed to register new signings once again, so perhaps that’s part of the reason their president isn’t too worried about Costa’s fitness issues and remains optimistic in all aspects of this deal.

“He has a contract with another club so it's naturally a complicated issue. We're moving forward with confidence but until Chelsea agree to his transfer, then Costa will be a Chelsea player.”

“On holiday it is normal to get a little fat but we must understand that Costa is a professional and he knows what shape he should be in.”

“Am I optimistic on his arrival? I’m always optimistic.”

-Enrique Cerezo; source: El Larguero via Football Espana

Cerezo isn’t the only one optimistic. Former and future teammate Koke is looking forward to this reunion as well.

“We all want Diego Costa to come, but the situation is complicated. If Diego comes, he will help us and he already knows a lot of us at the club so for us it would be very exciting.

“The team learned our lesson from the opening day; we must not start slowly and be on our game right from the start.”

-Koke; source: Cadena Ser via Football Espana

Having burned all his bridges at Chelsea, there was only ever going to be one outcome for Costa this summer. Sounds like he might finally get what he wanted all along.