Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Diego Simeone will stay; Diego Costa return 'difficult' - Atletico Madrid chief

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo says Diego Simeone will remain the club's coach for a long time, while it looks difficult for centre-forward Diego Costa to return from Chelsea this summer.

Simeone's hugely impressive four years in charge at Atletico have led to persistent reports suggesting that richer clubs elsewhere in Europe aimed to tempt him away from the Estadio Vicente Calderon, where he is under contract until 2020.

Chelsea were one of the clubs thought to have considered a move for the former Atletico, Inter Milan and Lazio midfielder, although that has been ruled out since Antonio Conte was confirmed the Blues new manager for the 2016-17 campaign.

Speaking to Al Primer Toque radio show the Colchoneros club chief said that he expected Simeone to stay at Atletico and continue to do his excellent job for some seasons yet.

"I believe Simeone will be here a long time," Cerezo said. "When he leaves we will say it in a timely and orderly way. Simeone has changed this club completely. At the moment all the players want to play at Atletico Madrid, and all clubs want our players. Simeone is very important for players to come here."

Former Atletico striker Costa has also often been linked with a return to the Calderon, but Cerezo said he did not think his club would be able to strike a deal with Chelsea.

"[Costa] has a contract with Chelsea," he said. "Often, no matter how much you want a player, there is a contract. To negotiate with Chelsea can be really difficult, almost impossible."

Ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Barcelona, Cerezo said that after their last-gasp disappointments in the 1974 decider against Bayern Munich and 2014 final against neighbours Real Madrid, the competition owed Atletico something good.

"It is a pity that we have drawn Barcelona, but we are excited about the chance to beat one of the best teams in the world. The Champions League owes us one. In both finals we've been in we have been whacked in the last minute. I hope they pay us back for that soon."

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