The striker went AWOL last summer after a major row with Antonio Conte and lost his place as a consequence. 'It is very clear that it was not my fault that I was in Brazil,' the striker said.

KIERAN GILL - THE NUMBERS GAME: His last was against Brighton on Boxing Day – a header after a peach of a ball from Cesar Azpilicueta put the goal on a plate for him at Stamford Bridge.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid lock horns at the Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon with plenty of local pride at stake. Join ADAM SHERGOLD for all the action as it unfolds.

Atletico Madrid booked their place in the Europa League final after they saw off Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday evening. 

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE WANDA METROPOLITANO: Diego Costa appears at the doorway of the dressing-room before kick off. 'Lads,' he announces with a big grin. 'It's Arsenal.'

Diego Costa scored the winner as Spain beat Iran 1-0 in their World Cup clash - but should he have been on the pitch? Sportsmail's JAMIE REDKNAPP and GRAHAM POLL had their say on it...

IAN HERBERT AT KALININGRAD STADIUM: It’s going to be a long climb to the top of the world, if Spain are going to get there. But they narrowly avoided facing Uruguay next.

Spain will play Russia in the knockout stages of the World Cup 2018 and the last-16 clash is already proving to be controversial. Here is all you need to know about the knockout stage clash.

Leaning back on a sun-lounger outside his family’s modest Brazilian home last summer, Diego Costa’s mind fleetingly turned to the World Cup.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE LUZHNIKI STADIUM: Passed to death. That should be Spain’s epitaph at this World Cup. They tried to pass Russia into oblivion but only extinguished themselves.

Aside from Juventus, United should face easier rides against Valencia and Young Boys, who return to the group stages this year. However Ronaldo's reunion can't be dismissed.

Liverpool had substitute Roberto Firmino to thank for victory in their first Champions League group clash of the season, as he scored in stoppage time. You can relive all the action from Anfield here.

Atletico Madrid have edged past Catalan minnows Sant Andreu in the first leg of their Copa del Rey clash on Tuesday evening courtesy of a first-half strike from Gelson Martins. 

Simeone reached the milestone with a 4-0 victory over Spanish minnows Sant Andreu in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey. Under Simeone, Atletico have won seven major trophies.

Eden Hazard was back to his brilliant best in his preferred role on the left-wing against Tottenham on Thursday after playing in a false 9 role in recent weeks.

Away from the main action, there were several talking points which may have slipped under your radar. Don't fear, Sportsmail is here to catch you up on the things you missed...

A World Cup winner who has played with some of football's biggest talents, Antoine Griezmann was never going to be short of options when it came to choosing his dream five-a-side team.

KIERAN GILL - THE NUMBERS GAME: Chelsea lost Costa in 2017. Morata could not fill his boots, while Giroud has long been deemed a back-up striker. Now it is Gonzalo Higuain’s turn.

John Terry has spoken about his future managerial ambitions and also revealed some of the bizarre superstitions he had as a player. He had a variety of unusual quirks.

Gerard Pique was pictured having a word in Diego Costa's ear as he walked towards the tunnel, with some suggesting he was trying to wind-up the Spain striker.

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani 'has agreed a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Atletico Madrid'. He is Atletico's No 1 summer target if Diego Costa departs for the Chinese Super League.

Atletico Madrid have prioritised a move for PSG striker Edinson Cavani this summer. Diego Simeone has selected the experienced Uruguayan as an option.

Diego Costa is ready to talk to Everton over a stunning return to the Premier League after two years away, according to The Sun.

Diego Costa scored four goals and was later sent off as Real Madrid were beaten 7-3 by city rivals Atletico, leaving Zidane 'hurt' but 'not concerned' at the result.

Eden Hazard's current manager at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, scored an incredible match-deciding volley in the 2002 Champions League final as Real Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen.

Fikayo Tomori first made a name for himself as he came through the ranks at Chelsea when he broke Diego Costa's nose. Now it is his central defensive displays which have got people talking.

The Portuguese star underwent X-ray and MRI scans at a local hospital and the club later confirmed that their mega-money summer signing has suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain.

Manchester United decided to let Romelu Lukaku leave in the summer without bringing in a replacement, although they are expected to snap a striker up in the January transfer window.

John Terry has shared an insight into how Chelsea players were kept entertained during pre-season training in 2015, with Diego Costa flooring masseur Billy McCulloch in a boxing fight.

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Marcin Bulka has recalled a bizarre incident involving a Diego Costa and Nathaniel Chalobah. Bulka rose through the Chelsea ranks before moving to PSG.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: For the first time in 30 years, Liverpool are the champions. We knew that already and it looks now as though the coronavirus has confirmed it.

IAN LADYMAN: Football has a bigger heart and much greater intelligence than many may think and during this tricky time we are beginning to see it but the game needs to do more to publicise it.

Roma are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa as the Italian side look to add to their depleted striking options for next season.

Kim Yo-jong (left) sat alongside her brother and his wife at North Korea's mass games in Pyongyang, the first time she has been seen in 50 days following reports she was sent to a labour camp.

President Donald Trump said North Korea's special representative to the U.S. for nuclear negotiations had not been assassinated and said he looks forward to meeting again with Kim Jong-un.

The North Korean mass games are a spectacle of gymnastic synchronisation believed to be the world's 'biggest human performance' held at Rungrado, reportedly the world's biggest stadium.

In one shot,  locals enjoy a feast of wine and biscuits, in another a local dignitary is carried through a provincial village.

The magnitude 1.3 quake took place in the Chinese city of Hunchun at 19:38pm local time today with a focal depth of zero metres, reported China seismic network.

Alex Sigley, a 29-year-old student of Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University, has been arrested and the Australian government is frantically trying to work out why.

An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has been arrested after posting about life in the secretive country.

Alek Sigley's wife Yuka Morinaga said she received her last message from him on Monday. The 26-year-old, who is based in Tokyo, usually speaks to Mr Sigley every day on WhatsApp.

Perth man Alek Sigley, missing in North Korea, may have been silenced ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the demilitarized zone, an expert said on Friday.

Former federal MP Michael Johnson, who has visited North Korea three times, fears Australian exchange student Alek Sigley has been physically abused in detention.

Two Bradley Fighting vehicles were seen being driven past the Nationals' baseball stadium on Tuesday. Two M1 Abrams tanks and an armored M88 recovery unit will be at the 'Salute to America' event.

Australian exchange student Alek Sigley's release from North Korea occurred just four days after Donald Trump set foot in the secretive communist nation to meet with Kim Jong-un.

Alek Sigley, 29, last made contact with his family on June 25, sparking concerns he had been detained in the secretive nation's capital, Pyongyang.

An Australian student was freed from the clutches of North Korea after a colourful Swedish politician urged the hermit kingdom to let him go.

The Australian student's business partner, Michelle Joyce, said she would 'be surprised' if he didn't return to the country despite the negative experience.

Kim's eagerness to meet Trump in the DMZ that divides North and South Korea contrasted with the picture that Pyongyang paints of a powerful and proactive leader, a source told Korean media.

Alek Sigley, 29, landed in China safe and well on Thursday after spending nine days detained in the communist country.