Costa call made in January, insist Chelsea

THE row between Diego Costa and Chelsea escalated yesterday after the club attacked claims from the striker’s lawyer that he is being forced out of Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have issued a robust response to accusations from the Spain striker’s lawyer Ricardo Cardoso. At the end of last season, manager Antonio Conte informed Costa via text message that he was no longer in his first-team plans. But Chelsea and Conte are adamant the decision to let Costa leave the club was made in January, following his now infamous training ground spat with the Italian manager. ‘The decision on Diego was made back in January,’ said a spokesman. ‘The player knew the decision, his agent knew the decision, clearly the lawyer has not been well informed. ‘The lawyer’s argument that Antonio as a coach has forced the player out by text message in June is just nonsense.’ Conte added: ‘For me it’s very simple. The player, his agent and the club knew very well the future of the player in the summer. They knew very well. ‘For sure I don’t understand why lawyers are getting involved. The situation is very clear.’ Speaking earlier this week, Cardoso said: ‘We are going to use all possible legal mechanisms to hold

Chelsea responsible for their behaviour, making possible the departure of Diego Costa. He will formally request the transfer. ‘The way in which it was carried out and the fact that it came out in public shows unfair behaviour and a lack of respect for the player and it is inadmissible and inexcusable on Antonio Conte’s part. ‘At the moment, he does not want to play for a club other than Atletico Madrid.’ Costa (below) has been linked with a move back to former side Atletico, but the Spanish club are operating under a transfer ban, and so the 28-year-old would not be able to play for them until January. Meanwhile, Conte, whose side face Arsenal in the Community Shield tomorrow, believes the forthcoming season will be his toughest as a manager amid tensions over the club’s summer transfer activity. Chelsea have spent close to £150million on four new signings: Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero. Nevertheless, following the departures of Nemanja Matic, John Terry, Nathan Ake, Nathaniel Chalobah and Asmir Begovic, last season’s championshipwinning squad lacks depth.