Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has identified his “good friend” Diego Costa as the player he wished had never left Stamford Bridge.

The Atletico Madrid striker left Chelsea in bizarre circumstances in 2017.

After a stellar season under Antonio Conte, in which he scored 20 Premier League goals, Costa was sent a blunt text message by the former Blues manager telling him he was no longer a part of his plans.

The message reportedly read: ‘Hi Diego, I hope you are well.

‘Thanks for the seasono [sic] we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan.’

Costa’s reply to Conte’s message was supposedly simply: ‘Ok’.

Despite the crucial role he played in guiding Chelsea to their most recent Premier League title, the Spain international returned to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017.

And Alonso admitted he would love Costa to still be a part of the current Blues squad now, report the Metro.

Asked to select any former Chelsea player and bring them back to the current squad in a Q&A on the club’s Instagram, Alonso replied: ‘The beast himself and my good friend, Diego Costa.’

Photo Credit: thesportreview.com