Costa to ditch plan to rejoin Atletico if Chelsea won't lower asking price

Diego Costa believes Chelsea's valuation of him has turned Atletico Madrid off of making a bid to buy him this summer as he attempts to engineer a move away from the defending Premier League champion.

The unsettled forward remains in a self-imposed exile in Brazil where he said he's eager to rejoin Atletico Madrid, but may have to consider alternative options if the Spanish side isn't able to convince Chelsea to sell him, according to Liam Twomey from ESPN FC.

The main hurdle appears to be Chelsea's asking price, which could ultimately cause Atletico to give up its pursuit. But Costa, who has also attracted interest from Everton, suggests Chelsea should be content with turning a small profit on the £32 million the English side paid Atletico in 2014 rather than displaying perceived avarice tactics.

"I've demonstrated I care for Atletico and have interest in playing for them," he said. "But if Atletico and Chelsea don't come to an agreement and Atletico don't make a big effort, I can't keep on wanting to play for a club that isn't going to make a bigger effort to try and sign me.

"I know that this (big effort) will happen, but if it's to pay the amount that Chelsea want it won't be possible.

"What I know is that this offer Chelsea will get is bigger than what they paid, so I've given them something back in all senses (sporting and financial)."

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Costa isn't privy to Chelsea's asking price, but was told by his agent that it's enough to price Atletico, where Costa plied his trade for four seasons, out of the running.

"When we heard that (manager Antonio) Conte didn't want me anymore, my agent went to find out if there was interest from Atletico for me coming back. Of course for the warmth and respect that I earned there, they showed interest. But they wouldn't pay a fortune. Atletico is a team growing every year, a big team, but they can't pay an extraordinary amount."

After formally requesting a transfer away from the Blues earlier this month, Chelsea has been reluctant to part ways with the forward that has led the team in scoring over the past three years and helped the club win a pair of Premier League trophies.

Chelsea reportedly fined Costa two weeks' wages for his failure to show up at pre-season training. The club is also believed to be adament that Costa return to London where he's expected to train with the reserves in order to regain fitness and fight for a place in the first team in a proposition that doesn't interest the 28-year-old.

"I was always meant to turn up with the group, but they were already saying that I'm going to have to come back and train with the reserves. I said that this was a lack of respect. We won the league and I haven't done anything so serious to deserve being treated in that way."