Over the past couple of days we have learned that forward Diego Costa is not part of Manager Antonio Conte‘s plans at Chelsea FC. Given all the stress and strife between the two gentlemen this season, a lot of which played out in public, this is certainly no surprise.
However, it was still quite the news story when Costa shared the contents of a text message from Conte with the Spanish media late last week, as that text confirmed that his days with Chelsea are now through.
The club is now in a very awkward spot until Stamford Bridge can find the appropriate buyer for Costa.
How awkward? Well, take a look at Conte’s face in this Chelsea video as he’s presented with a commemorative magazine and he flips to the page with Costa on it.
Speaking to the media while on international duty with Spain, Diego Costa gave the media an update.
“I have a contract with Chelsea, they have to know what to do with me and I have to wait and know the decision that my club takes. I have a contract of two years with Chelsea, they have to decide. If they sell me, I will look for the best choice,” Costa said.
“Atletico [Madrid] is among them, it would not mean not playing, they can loan me out to some team in Spain, Brazil or wherever, but I have to play.”
“Everyone knows that I have a lot of affection for them. Of course I rule out China, I have to think about the World Cup. Atletico is a club that I have a lot of affection for, independently of whether I go there or not, I will continue to love them.”
Last summer, Costa was linked with a move away from Chelsea, and the prevailing narrative was a return to Atletico Madrid. Perhaps this is the summer it happens, but that would be very complicated as they can’t register any new players until January 2018 due to a FIFA transfer ban.
Obviously, it’s his preferred destination because he spoke at length more about that club than he did on any other.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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