Diego Costa to leave Atletico Madrid on free transfer?

Diego Simeone reportedly intends to keep Diego Costa as part of his first-team squad until the end of next season.

Since rejoining Atletico at the start of 2018, Costa has failed to show the form of his initial spell at the club, scoring just 14 goals from 52 starts and 11 substitute appearances.

With the Spanish side having struggled in the final third this season, the 31-year-old appeared to be a likely candidate to leave Wanda Metropolitano during the next transfer window.

However, according to Marca, Simeone continues to have faith in the frontman, who still has just over a year left on his contract.

Rather than being sold later in 2020, the report suggests that Costa will instead leave on a free transfer a year later.