Bologna director Walter Sabatini denies coach Sinisa Mihajlovic blocked the transfer, but does confirm Diego Costa ‘was proposed to us and we decided to pursue different targets.’
The Brazilian-Spanish striker has been a free agent since quitting Atletico Madrid in January and was seemingly on the verge of agreeing a two-year contract with Bologna, worth €2.5m per season.
According to Sportitalia, the deal was scrapped at the last minute when Mihajlovic put the veto on Costa.
“It’s not true that Mihajlovic blocked Diego Costa,” Sabatini told Nettuno Bologna Uno local television.
“Costa was proposed to us and at the end of an internal discussion, we decided to pursue different targets.”
Nonetheless, Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà stands by his reporting, insisting the club was happy to pick up the former Chelsea hitman, only for Mihajlovic to cut talks short.
The primary target as far as the coach is concerned remains Marko Arnautovic, who has to terminate his contract with Shangai SIPG by mutual consent.