Ex-Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has given his verdict on the agreement for Diego Costa to return to former club and La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid.
Lampard wrote in his column in the Evening Standard that the Spanish striker’s departure from the Blues will be a weight off the shoulders of manager Antonio Conte:
Costa leaving will be a relief to Conte and Chelsea – it is the best thing for all concerned.
If it was just a case of selling a talented striker, then we’d be talking about what a great loss he is to the club. But he had to go.
Costa scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for Chelsea but a deal has now been agreed for the on-strike forward to return to his former club, for whom he will only become eligible again in January.
Lampard continued:
There was no way he could stay at Chelsea, given the events of the summer and the sooner he went, the better.
It’s great for Costa, too. He needs to go and train properly before starting playing again in January. He couldn’t carry on staying in Brazil like he was, it wasn’t helping anybody.
Costa refused to return to pre-season training for Chelsea and bided his time in Brazil until the Stamford Bridge club struck a deal with Atletico for his return to La Liga.
Chelsea are currently preparing to face Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but Lampard doesn’t foresee any issue or distraction because of the Costa deal:
It is likely Costa will attend the game but it won’t be a distraction to the Chelsea players.
I know he is well respected by the players and was a popular member of the dressing room.
