La Liga side Atletico Madrid have confirmed Filipe Luis’ return to the club from Premier League champions Chelsea after just one season in England.
The Brazilian moved to Stamford Bridge last summer along with former Atletico striker Diego Costa but, unlike his team-mate, he failed to break into Jose Mourinho’s squad on the account of the excellent form of Cesar Azpilicueta.
Simeone pleased to have him back
He only made 26 appearances in what proved to be in a title-winning season but Madrid manager Diego Simeone jumped at the opportunity to bring the full-back to the Vicente Calderon, for a fee in which is believed to be in region of what they let him go for 12 months ago.
Mourinho is already planning on bringing in a replacement for the 29-year-old with Galatasaray’s Alex Telles is their latest target, the Turkish Super Lig starlet is seen as a cheaper alternative to Augsburg’s Abdul Baba Rahman - who would cost the Premier League champions at least £15m.
The South American had a successful first spell at Atletico making 127 appearances and winning the Europa League and Copa Del Rey, as well as the La Liga title during his first four years at the club.
Luis explains his decision to leave
Despite his rapid exit, he has no regrets leaving Atletico who had just won the Spanish title saying that he was “proud” of his season despite having “less minutes”.
The Brazilian could have easily stayed in London and had success playing second fiddle to Azpilicueta, but he said that when the chance came up to return to Atletico he told his agent said that he didn’t want any “other option”.
He went on to say that his time in the top flight of English football was a “great experience” but the opportunity for his children to see him “play at Atletico” was one that he couldn’t pass up.