Chelsea top-scorer back in first-team fold under manager Antonio Conte as likelihood of an estimated £575,000-a-week move to China dwindles
Diego Costa
Chelsea’s Diego Costa had a bust-up with boss Antonio Conte last week, but returned to training this week. Pic/Getty Images
London: Diego Costa took a full part in training with the Chelsea first team on Tuesday as the likelihood of a move to China dwindled.
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Press Association Sport understands Costa was involved as his Chelsea teammates returned following two days off after Saturday's win at Leicester. Head coach Antonio Conte said the 28-year-old striker was absent from that game with a back problem which saw him miss three days of training last week.
And Conte refused to publicly comment on reports of a disagreement with his top scorer, whose solitary training sessions on Sunday and Monday were linked to his recuperation, Chelsea said.
Costa had been linked with a mega-money move to the Chinese Super League where he was reportedly offered around £575,000-a-week to join.
Costa will stay on
Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich are determined to keep the Spain striker, who has scored 14 Premier League goals in 19 games this season. And the Chinese Super League club's owner on Tuesday said that Chelsea's desire to keep the striker until the end of the season and the new limit on foreign imports to China, with three permitted in matchday squads, will scupper a deal.
Tianjin's billionaire owner Shu Yuhui told Tianjin TV, according to Sina Sports: "This situation has brought a change to our signing plans. If the rule had been '4 +1' as in the past, then we would have made a big investment this year, but now it seems to be changed to three. "The online reports about Costa, it's true we'd like him. We made an offer for Edinson Cavani and were deep in negotiations."
The news may be a boost to Chelsea's Premier League title hopes, but the subject of Costa's future will not go away.
The Independent on Tuesday reported that Atletico Madrid, Costa's former club, and Barcelona could try to sign the Brazil-born Spain striker this summer.
Confused Costa
Costa signed a five-year deal on his arrival from Atletico in July 2014 for £32m. He was repeatedly linked with a return to Atletico after being troubled by hamstring problems and disciplinary issues in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge.
Costa this season admitted he had wanted to leave, before stating he was happy. But it was widely reported on Monday that he recently rejected a contract extension on improved terms.
Chelsea's first team returned to training with an afternoon session at their Cobham training base. Conte has said if there were any issues with players, he would resolve them behind closed doors. Shu, who recently met with Costa's agent Jorge Mendes, claimed he was interested in signing Karim Benzema of Real Madrid and Cavani of Paris St Germain.
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