Cerezo: Gameiro always number one, Costa won’t be joining and Atletico finished with transfer activity

Atletico Madrid’s president has finally put the Diego Costa rumours to bed and said that Chelsea are Atletico’s “friends” despite constant speculation throughout the summer that Costa would eventually end up back at the Vicente Calderon.

According to ESPNFC, Cerezo said “"Costa [talks] do not have a long tail or anything of the sort," Cerezo said. "Diego has a contract with Chelsea and he belongs to Antonio Conte's team. Chelsea are our friends, just as the great Atletico man Diego Costa is our friend. But his place is with Chelsea and we are sure that he will be successful there. We cherish Diego for what he has given us and he knows where his home is."

Atletico seem flush with attacking options having added Nico Gaitan from Benfica and Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla but there remained a hint of truth around the Costa story due to the fact that, while Gameiro is an excellent striker, he is not the robust, physical specimen that Diego Simeone seems to covet at number nine.

Although Cerezo was quick to say, “"From the start, he [Gameiro] was our main goal. We are delighted that he is an Atletico player.”

Cerezo also said Atletico Madrid’s activity is finished this summer for a couple of reasons, main one being that the LFP will not let them and Diego Simeone has a team that can be competitive in all three competitions.

“We’ve signed what we needed, with Cholo’s agreement. We didn’t spend more than we have. The signings have ended because the LFP will not allow us to make any more, there won’t be any more,” he said.