Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has insisted that it "has been a long time" since he was last in dialogue with Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
The Spain international has his heart set on a return to the Spanish capital this summer after being told by boss Antonio Conte that he does not feature in his plans for next season.
Costa was spotted partying in an Atletico shirt earlier this week, further strengthening talk that a transfer could be imminent, but the Rojiblancos' transfer ban - in effect until January - has complicated matters.
Atleti president Cerezo claims that he has barely spoken to Costa, but he admits to being a big fan of the Chelsea outcast and cryptically suggested that he expects him to return one day.
"Costa is a Chelsea player at the moment, and you know for a long time now that we cannot sign anyone [this summer]," he told AS. "This shows that pyjamas come in all different colours. Everyone can put on whichever ones they want.
"Diego is a magnificent player, a great player, he was in Spain for many years. He has had a good spell in England, learned English, English customs.
"He will return to Spain someday... On holiday. Madrid is a lovely place to visit, if you have the money to enjoy it. It is a long time since I spoke with him. At least a year, since he left here. I have seen him with the [Spanish] national team, but spoken to him very little."
Chelsea have still yet to recruit a new striker during the off-season, having already missed out on Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the latter of whom is to remain at Borussia Dortmund for at least another year.
Daniel Lewis
