The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Atletico Madrid

  • Costa’s return to Atletico Madrid finalised

    Costa’s return to Atletico Madrid finalised

    Diego Costa’s return to Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid from Jan. 1 has been finialised, English Premier League champions Chelsea said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The two clubs agreed the transfer last week and on Monday the 28-year-old Spain forward passed a medical to return to the Spanish capital.

    “Diego Costa has today agreed terms for his transfer to Atletico Madrid, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018,” Chelsea said in a statement.

    “We thank Diego for his efforts and wish him well in his future career.”

    The controversial Spaniard’s departure from Stamford Bridge signalled the end of a messy transfer saga.

    During this, Costa claimed Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had told him via text that he was no longer required at the club.

    His last game for Chelsea came at Wembley in May when he scored in the 2-1 FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal.

    Costa leaves Chelsea having won two Premier League titles, one League Cup and scored 59 goals in 120 appearances.

    He finished as Chelsea’s top scorer in each of his three seasons in west London.

    “I‘m very happy to return home,” Costa said in a statement on Atletico’s official website.

    “I’ve always said it, Atletico is my home. I‘m very, very happy. I‘m looking forward to start contributing. I‘m going to give my all for the team, as I always try to do.

    “Thank you to the whole club for making this move forward, I‘m very grateful to everyone.”

    Costa will have to wait before pulling on the red and white striped shirt of Atletico as the European transfer window is closed.

    Also, Atletico are banned from registering new players until 2018 after breaching FIFA rules.

    Diego Costa’s return, means he will wear the number 18 shirt, and will join the team’s training from Wednesday.

    He will be eligible for selection from Jan. 2 when the Spanish transfer window opens and Atletico’s ban ends.

    Costa first joined Atletico in 2006 and, following a string of loan spells, established himself as a key part of Diego Simeone’s title winning side in 2013-2014.

    He then joined Chelsea in a deal worth 32 million pounds ($43.21 million).

    Atletico are in the same Champions League group as Chelsea but their two clashes will both be before Costa is eligible to continue his career with the Spanish club.

  • Diego Costa Returns to Atletico Madrid

    Diego Costa Returns to Atletico Madrid

    On Thursday, a statement on Chelsea‘s website confirmed that the blues has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa.

    Part of the statement which was also posted on their social media reads;”Chelsea Football Club has today agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa.

    The transfer will be subject to the agreement of personal terms and a medical, according to the statement.

    Atletico Madrid also confirmed the agreement also in a statement that was posted online

    “The English club has authorised Diego Costa to travel to Madrid in the coming days to undergo a medical and agree a contract with our club,” the statement.

    Atletico can only officially register Costa on Jan. 1, when the Spanish transfer window re-opens and their FIFA transfer ban ends, but agreeing a deal means the focus can now turn to getting the 28-year-old back into peak physical condition in time for the new year.

    Chelsea included Costa in their submitted Premier League squad list last month in order to give the Spain international a theoretical path back into the first team, but he was omitted from their Champions League squad to avoid him becoming ineligible for Atletico in the competition, and there never appeared to be a realistic prospect that he would play under manager Antonio Conte again.

    Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico for £32m in the summer of 2014 and won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, finishing as the club’s top scorer in each of his three full seasons. But he never hid his dissatisfaction with life in England and pushed for a move back to Atletico on several occasions.

    He was dropped by Conte in January following a training-ground argument and a lucrative bid from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, and Chelsea proactively pursued an elite striker this summer — eventually signing Morata for the club-record £58m.

    Chelsea face Atletico in a Champions League group stage match in Madrid next week, though it is not yet clear whether Costa will be unveiled before then.

  • Chelsea treating me like a criminal, says Costa

    Chelsea treating me like a criminal, says Costa

    Diego Costa has accused Chelsea FC of treating him like a “criminal”, in a forthright newspaper interview which will deepen the breach with the Premier League club.

    The striker is seeking a move back to Spain in the transfer window.

    He has not played for Chelsea since the FA Cup final in May, following which he claims manager Antonio Conte sent him a text, telling him he was not in his plans for the new season.

    Costa was interviewed at home in Brazil on the same day Chelsea lost their opening Premier League game to Burnley and said he was refusing the club’s demand to return to play with the reserves.

    “They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,” he told the Daily Mail.

    “I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.”

    The Brazilian-born Spain international, who joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014, said if the club did not allow him to move before the transfer window he was prepared to see out his contract unpaid in Brazil.

    “I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’t pay me.

    “I’ll come back stronger. If I was in the wrong, I’d go back now and do as they say.

    “I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup.”

    The situation is complicated by the fact that Atletico are currently banned from signing players in this window although a loan deal would be possible.

    Costa’s relationship with Conte appears to have broken down although the Brazilian accepts the Italian “is a good coach”.

    Last week Conte said there was “no news” on the Costa situation but earlier this summer said the “situation is closed.”

  • New Griezmann contract to retain €100m release clause

    New Griezmann contract to retain €100m release clause

     

    Antoine Griezmann will sign a new five-year contract with Atletico Madrid that will retain his €100million release clause, according to the club’s president.

    The France international has confirmed his desire to stay at the club despite heavy speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.

    The 26-year-old said it would be wrong of him to force an exit in the wake of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to uphold the transfer ban imposed on the club by FIFA.

    Griezmann has since agreed to a new deal that will reportedly double his wages but not see an increase in his release clause, which is understood to be set at €100m.

    When asked about the contract by Cadena SER, Enrique Cerezo said: “Yes, it’s one more year and the release clause will remain the same.

    “The issue of the money is a private one. We have maintained a confidentiality agreement with respect to the money.

    “I said many times that Griezmann would not leave. After months and months of reporting, time has proved me right.”

    Atleti are banned from registering new players before January of next year after FIFA found them guilty of breaching regulations over the transfer of minors.

    Diego Simeone’s side are nonetheless being linked with a number of possible reinforcements, including Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who says he has been told by manager Antonio Conte that he can leave.

    “He is the one that has to say and decide,” Cerezo said of Costa. “Costa is a Chelsea player and we can’t even say that we are interested. What I can say is that we are in a situation where we are working for the future.”

  • Ronaldo: We knew a goal would kill Atletico Madrid

    Ronaldo: We knew a goal would kill Atletico Madrid

    Cristiano Ronaldo believes the strength of Real Madrid’s squad was decisive as his team beat Atletico 4-2 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-final.

    The home side were 2-0 up inside 16 minutes after a Saul Niguez bullet header and a penalty from Antoine Griezmann cut the defending champions’ 3-0 first-leg lead to a single goal.

    But Isco hit back just before half-time, and Zinedine Zidane’s men saw out the rest of the game to set up a June 3 final against Juventus in Cardiff.

     “We knew that with a goal we would kill them, we had more experience and we showed it,” Ronaldo told Cadena SER.

    “Everything can happen, but I see the team well, we are strong. The players are very good, both those who play more and less often.”

    Atletico manager Diego insisted he was proud of his players, despite defeat.

    View image on Twitter“Those first 30 minutes will be in the history of the stadium and the people,” he told Marca.

    “It was an extraordinary game and there was great quality on show from so many players in our team.

    ” It’s a shame we can’t clone players like (Diego) Godin or Gabi, as they give their life to this club”

    “It was a Champions League semi-final against a great opponent and they made things difficult for us in their stadium, but our team demonstrated why we have been competing the way we have for so many years.

    “We believed we could do it and we were close to winning the tie.

    View image on TwitterThe incredible attack meets the immovable defence… “We set the tie up well, but their goal hurt us a lot.”
  • Ronaldo: The aging maestro still at his prolific best

    Ronaldo: The aging maestro still at his prolific best

    You can see the expression right in his face, the mood through which he waves his hand towards the Santiago bernabeu fans making them to understand his ability and credibility in front of a goal post which you never know when he can unleash his wrath upon your team; whether you agree with me or not, Cristiano Ronaldo’s age does not determine whether he will stop scoring goals and most especially the one that can destabilize the morale of the opponent. Even Antoine Griezmann shook his head when he scored his second goal against Atletico Madrid; therefore, he cannot be overlooked and you can’t joke with him when he is in the 18 yard box.

    He may have been experiencing what I like to call a footballer’s nightmare. His struggles to find the back of the net seemed an almost impossible and implausible expectation.

    He is arguably one the finest footballers the world of soccer will ever produce. Scoring 103 European  goals; even Atletico Madrid can only brag of 100 European goals since its inception. Lionel Messi, his arch rival, is still struggling with 96 goals.

    Regardless of his average scoring performance this season, it will be good advice for any one never to underestimate nor belittle his ability to attain a comeback- even at the age of 32.  With his 42 hat tricks for real Madrid, 50 champions league knockout goals, and 13 semi-final goals, we cannot but celebrate the almost ethereal talent of the immaculate Ronaldo.

    With the remarkable performance of Ronaldo on Tuesday, he has proven his doubters wrong once again after netting a hat trick against Diego Simeone’s side in the semi-final of the UEFA champions league in front of his home fans; this makes it his second hat trick against Simeone’s side this season and also making him the first player to ever score a back-to-back hat trick in the knockout stages of the UEFA champions league history.

    He is indeed a god in the world of soccer; even Lionel Messi with his impressive achievements cannot but recognize Ronaldo’s amazing talent and his ubiquitous historical records.

    Finally, Ronaldo has proven his might and the full extent of his talent by not only performing his ‘hat trick magic’ on smaller teams, but preponderantly on the best of the best in the international platform of the Champions league.

    With my above postulations and overwhelming evidences, I have just one question for you: Are you still one of his enemies?

  • Atletico star Koke robbed at gunpoint 

    Atletico star Koke robbed at gunpoint 

     

    Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke was threatened at gunpoint and had his £60,000 watch stolen on Thursday.

    The Spain international was driving his car in an underground car park in Madrid’s Chamberi district when a motorcyclist, brandishing a gun, followed and then confronted him.

    The gunman put the weapon to his temple as he wound down his window to take a ticket at the barrier and eventually got away with the 25-year-old’s watch, with the incident occurring at around 7pm.

    Koke, who is preparing for the Madrid derby against fierce rivals Real on Saturday, reported the assault at the nearby police station.

    It is believed the assailant only got away with the footballer’s timepiece before escaping the underground car park on his motorbike, according to El Mundo.

    Koke joined up with his Atletico team-mates to take part in training on Friday morning ahead of their upcoming La Liga fixture.

    Diego Simeone has named the midfielder in his squad for the crunch clash and Koke is expected to play a midfield role against Real, who are leading La Liga.

    Atletico trail their city rivals by 10 points but will undoubtedly want to dent Real’s title hopes with victory at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon

  • Torres celebrates turning 33 in style

    Torres celebrates turning 33 in style

    Fernando Torres found an appropriate way to mark his 33rd birthday – with a delicious-looking three-tiered cake.

    Torres took to Instagram to post a photo of the cake – drizzled in icing and topped with a family-themed decoration alongside a candle of his age.

    The former Liverpool and Chelsea forward captioned the photo: ‘Thank you for your messages and countless signs of affection. It has been a great day.’

    He also mentioned Celioso – the Madrid-based bakery that specialises in gluten-free food which made the cake.

    Torres came on for the last 27 minutes of Atletico Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla at the weekend as his side won through Diego Godin, Antoine Griezmann and Koke strikes.

    Atletico drew Premier League champions Leicester in the Champions League quarter-finals after they defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.

    Torres has scored seven goals this season and has mainly featured as a substitute for Atletico with manager Diego Simeone preferring Griezmann and compatriot Kevin Gameiro up front.

  • Torres out of hospital after head injury

    Torres out of hospital after head injury

     

     

    Fernando Torres has been released from hospital after suffering a head injury late in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna on Thursday.

    Torres collided with Depor’s Alex Bergantinos while jumping for the ball in the 84th minute and, after his head slammed into the ground, he was attended to for five minutes and left the pitch on a stretcher that carried him to a waiting ambulance.

    Initial tests showed no signs of any serious spine or head injuries and Atletico released a statement on Friday morning that he had spent “a good night” in hospital and was awaiting an MRI scan before the all clear.

    But, not long after, the club revealed that he had been released and allowed to go home.

    “A magnetic resonance done in the spine has corroborated that Fernando Torres has no alterations or traumatic injuries after the blow he suffered to the head in Riazor just as the CT scan done on the player had confirmed,” the club tweeted. “Having spent the night under observation, Torres left the La Coruna hospital this morning. He will have to rest for the next 48 hours.”

    The player himself spoke to reporters after leaving hospital and said in quotes reported by Marca: “Everything is well. I want to thank everyone, the Atletico and Deportivo players for the reaction they had, the fans, the medical staff in the hospital that took great care of me.

    “I remember everything before the collision. I recovered consciousness in the ambulance. Fortunately, it was just a care and I’m just counting the days to return to play,” he said

    Torres will not be able to return to Madrid by plane as a precaution and has been ruled out for Sunday’s home game against Valencia.

  • Hernandez arrested over domestic violence

    Hernandez arrested over domestic violence

     

     

     

    Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend.

    Hernandez was detained by police after an alleged incident at his home at around 2am on Friday.

    The woman involved was taken to hospital where she received treatment for her injuries.

    The 22-year-old France Under-21 centre-back has made 11 appearances for Atletico this season.

    Diego Simeone’s side are without a win in four matches and host LaLiga strugglers Leganes on Saturday.

    Speaking at a pre-match news conference, the Atleti boss refused to be drawn on the issue.

    “In reality, I’ve no official information about what happened,” he said, “So I cannot comment on something I do not know about.

    “We have read things and heard things, information which is not official that has come out. I cannot say any more.”