Conte shuts door on exiled outcast Costa
Chelsea gaffer laughs off star’s ‘criminal’ claims
CHELSEA head coach Antonio Conte has laughed off Diego Costa’s suggestion that he has been treated like “a criminal” and says the striker is in “the past”.
The 28-year-old Brazilborn Spain international signed for £32million from Atletico Madrid in July 2014, agreeing a fiveyear contract, and wishes to return to the Spanish capital.
Speaking from his native Lagarto earlier this week, Costa criticised Chelsea and Conte, who responded with humour on Friday.
“It’s great. I prefer to laugh,” Conte said.
“I can tell you that everyone who was in Chelsea knows very well what happened last season with Diego. It’s funny, this interview.”
Costa on Friday pleaded with Chelsea to lower their asking price to allow him to return to Atletico.
Costa claims he was told he was not wanted by a text message sent by Conte during the off-season.
But the Blues insist it was decided in January, with the striker and his agent, Jorge Mendes, that Costa could leave this summer.
COSTA still has two years remaining on his contract. As a consequence, he has been ordered by Chelsea to return to London, get himself match fit and make himself available for selection.
That stance is seemingly at odds with Conte’s, but Chelsea want to monitor their player ahead of a possible transfer.
Conte was asked if he would select Costa if he was fit to play.
“No. I’m not interested to continue this issue. I repeat: for me, it is the past,” Conte added.
A Chelsea spokesman added: “Antonio’s not wanting to comment further on this subject and neither are the club. Our position is clear.”
Asked how the situation might be resolved, the Chelsea spokesman added: “I don’t think that’s something we’ll get into publicly.
“As a Chelsea player we’ve said he should return to Chelsea and that’s where we’ll leave it.”
Costa has won two Premier League titles in three years at Chelsea, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances.
He says his former club are being priced out of a move by the Blues.
Asked the fee Chelsea are requesting, Costa told ESPN Brasil: “I don’t know, but my agent said that Chelsea want something that Atletico can’t get near.
“What I know is that this offer Chelsea will get is bigger than what they paid (for Costa in July 2014).
“Atletico is a team growing every year, a big team, but they can’t pay an extraordinary amount.
“I think they (Chelsea) should take into account everything that I’ve done. It’s not my fault that I’m not at the club.
“If it was down to me I’d be playing. It’s already been one month. Holidays are good but it gets tiresome.”
Chelsea play Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday after opening their Premier League title defence with a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Burnley.