Brazilian-born striker, Diego Costa, has expressed his disappointment at the treatment he’s got from Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte, over his future at the club.
The Spanish international however insists he would not succumb to the club selling him off to where he isn’t willing to go, where he doesn’t understand the language.
This is coming after Chelsea got their Premier League title defence to a poor start with a shock 3-2 home loss to Burnley on Saturday.
Chelsea’s match-day squad was without Costa, who has remained in Brazil on holiday in the hope of getting his preferred move to Atletico Madrid.
Frozen out of the first team squad and told to train with the reserves, a directive he has clearly refused by his absence from the club, Costa bared his mind about the situation in an interview with Daily Mail.
‘In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.
‘I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. The language is better for me in Spain. If I’m off, I’m going to the club I want to go to — not the club that’s paying the most.’
Speaking about his relationship with his team-mates, Costa said he remains on good terms with them, adding they all have been showing love since the text message saga between the coach and him.
‘I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn’t want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go,’ he said.
‘If you were to ask all my team-mates, they’d say the same. They send messages saying ‘I miss you’ and that they love me.
‘I am always talking with the boys — particularly Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz and Willian. We have banter over WhatsApp.
‘They ask how I am. They really love me for the person I am. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be saying they miss me and love me.’
Costa meanwhile appears not to be bothered about not being paid his weekly wages by the club, hinting he is ready to stay in Brazil till he sees out his contract with Chelsea and find his way back to Atletico Madrid.
He also spoke about Chelsea’s record signing, Alvaro Morata, saying he is certain the player would do well for the club.
‘Alvaro Morata is a great player. He had a great season in Madrid and actually with the way this crazy transfer market is, I think they got a good price for a young and talented forward.
‘He will triumph at Chelsea, but there are ways of going about it. You don’t do it by text message. You should be honest and direct to someone’s face.
‘I was with the Spain national team, alone in my room, when it came through. It was a shock to get it like that. I was showing it to my team-mates and they could not believe how he had done it.
‘I was angry at the time. Now I am more calm. I have not deleted the message. If people accuse me of lying, I can show them. It was clear, saying that he didn’t count on me and wishing me the best for the future. Full stop.’
‘He arrived from an Italian league where everyone is very serious and arrived in a dressing room where there are maybe more jokes.
‘Why won’t they let me go if they don’t want me? I have to do what I have to do. I have to think of myself. I’ve been a good boy here and tried to do the right thing.
‘My desire is to go to Atletico (where he played from 2010-14). I’ve spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, ‘If the manager doesn’t want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid.”
