The Brazil-born Spanish striker has been back in his hometown for the last three months (Getty)

Diego Costa has finally left Brazil, but rather than return to Chelsea as the club had asked, he has arrived in Madrid to try and force through his transfer to Atletico.

The Spain international was told he no longer featured in Antonio Conte’s plans at the end of last season, though was unable to secure a move away from the club and refused to return to training with the west Londoners.

But now Gianluca Di Marzio is claiming that Costa has arrived in Madrid to train at a private facility in an effort to force Roman Abramovich’s hand and agree to his sale.

Costa has not returned to training as he pushes to land his preferred transfer (Picture: Getty)

The report says Chelsea and Atletico have resumed negotiations over the move, and an agreement could be reached in the coming days, though the forward would not be able to play until January.

Similarly, reports in Madrid-based newspaper Marca say Chelsea have finally altered their stance – having refused to negotiate Costa’s sale unless he returned – and will now sanction a £54m deal.

Chelsea and Costa have both refused to back down, but Abramovich looks set to relent (Getty)

Even if Atletico had managed to agree a deal before the transfer window closed, Costa would not have been eligible to play until January due to the club’s transfer ban.

But an agreement now would allow Costa to train with Atletico until he can be registered in January, rather than continuing to work out alone in Brazil as he has done for the past three months.

Chelsea were reluctant to be held to ransom by Atletico and had tried to offload Costa elsewhere, though his lack of fitness was a barrier – hence why they pleaded with him to return to training in Cobham.

He is believed to have rejected a move to Fenerbahce, who instead signed Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen, while Saudi Arabian club Al Hilali have offered him a deal until January that he is unlikely to accept.

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