Pedro Rodriguez has insisted that losing Diego Costa in the summer would be a significant blow for Chelsea and stressed he hopes the striker remains at the club.
Costa, who endured a below-par 2015/16 campaign, has been linked with re-joining his former club Atletico Madrid.
The striker managed just 16 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions last season and was not included in Spain manager Vicente del Bosque’s squad for the European Championship.
Costa also struggled with on-field disciplinary issues last term, with the 27-year-old’s feuds with Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele drawing criticism from all corners.
And Pedro, who insisted that he does not know if Costa will quit Stamford Bridge in the summer, however, admitted that the Chelsea players want the forward to extend his stay at the club.
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“We don’t know, but for us losing Costa would be a very significant blow”, Pedro told Spnish daily Mundo Deportivo, when asked if Costa will leave Chelsea in the summer.
“We want him to stay and we will see what happens.”
Costa, whose present contract with Chelsea runs until 2019, joined the Blues from Atletico Madrid in 2014.
He has thus far amassed 78 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 36 times and providing 16 assists.
Costa also has 10 caps and a goal for Spain to his name.
