Conte doesn’t want me, says Costa
DIEGO COSTA insists he will look for an exit route out of Chelsea after being told by manager Antonio Conte he is not in the Italian’s plans for next season.
Costa was an integral part of Chelsea’s Premier League winning campaign this season, scoring 22 goals.
However, he claims he has no option but to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming months after being told by Conte he has no future with the English champions.
“I am going to be honest, the other day I got a message from the coach, Conte, that I am not part of his plans,” Costa told reporters after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia yesterday.
“Right now I am a Chelsea player because I have a contract, but if the coach doesn’t want me there then I have to leave.”
Costa said last month that he would only contemplate a move back to Atletico Madrid, from whom he joined Chelsea in 2014.
However, with the Spanish side banned by FIFA from registering new players until January, any move to Atletico before the end of August would mean Costa would have to wait until the new year to play.
“I don’t know,” said the striker when asked about a return to Atletico.
“To not play for four or five months is difficult. People know that I love my teammates at Atletico, I love to live in Madrid, but I need to think about my future.”
Costa does, though, believe Conte’s stance will allow him to leave on the cheap.
Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi is also concerned about his future and believes his lack of playing time at Chelsea could derail his hopes of playing at next year’s World Cup.
“Everyone knows that I have to play more, that I have to score goals. There’s a World Cup coming up next year. I want to be ready,” Batshuayi told reporters ahead of Belgium’s World Cup qualifier against Estonia today.
Batshuayi, who scored four goals in Chelsea’s last three League games, did not rule out a loan deal but said that would be a decision for the club.
“I have lived difficult moments, but it’s in times like those that you learn the most,” Batshuayi added.
“Certainly when you’re surrounded by top-class players, like Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, all of them, you only can make progress in a situation like that.”
“I haven’t played a lot ... but I managed to score one of the most important goals.
“It gave me a boost. Good for me, good for the team.” – AFP/ Reuters