The Daily Rojiblanco: August 31, 2017

• Oblak to remain for at least this season

According to a report from AS, Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak will remain in Madrid for the current season. Various reports throughout the summer suggested that Paris Saint-Germain would come calling for the Slovene’s services, and the keeper was noncommittal about his future beyond the current campaign.

It is important to remember that Atlético are working to sign the player to a long-term deal. His comments viewed in that context serve to strengthen his own position by reminding the club that his future is not guaranteed. Let’s hope that such a deal goes through.

• Diego Costa deal expected to be completed after window shuts

The latest from Costaland now, where the standoff between Atlético and Chelsea over Diego is set to end in the most appropriate way possible: with all parties involved acting like children.

Both AS and Marca report that Atleti and Chelsea are wrapping up negotiations for the AWOL forward, but it is unlikely that a deal will be finalized before Friday’s deadline. Technically, that’s not a problem, as Atleti can sign and incorporate him into training any time between now and Jan. 1. Chelsea’s asking price has dropped to around €60 million (with a healthy dose of variables), but the problem now seems to be Costa himself. The Spain striker has refused to return to London and make peace with his current club (read: pay the fines he owes them for an 80-day vacation), and as such, both clubs are trying to convince him to go back to England and smooth things over.

It will be satisfying when Atlético finally reacquire Costa, but the time it took and the way his saga has unfurled should leave both clubs — and maybe even Costa himself — ashamed.

• Héctor Hernández set for return loan to Albacete

Atlético forward Héctor Hernández may see a return to his loan club Albacete Balompié, according to Marca. His 20 goals in 38 appearances last season played an important role in Albacete’s promotion from Segunda B to Segunda, and the higher level of competition in Segunda will be an important test of the 21-year-old serial loanee’s development to this point in his career.

• M-40 access to A Stadium Called Wanda greenlit

The first phase of modifications to the M-40 motorway has been approved. When complete, these modifications will allow for much easier access to the new stadium. The construction should take about four months.

• Speaking of the stadium...Enrique Cerezo has some choice words for a worker

In a nearly unavoidable pun, club president Enrique Cerezo blasted a worker for leaking video of the roof at the Wanda Metropolitano, well, leaking. The footage from earlier in the week showed flooding in the unfinished stadium during heavy rainfall.

Cerezo had this to say about the worker: “The smart guy who made the video of the stadium, which is still being finished, should be told: 'If I was in your company I'd sack you, not for doing this but for being a fool.’

"Someone who is working there and finds that funny...at least make a good video, not such an amateur and stupid one.”