Chelsea striker Diego Costa has let Atletico Madrid know that he would be willing to return to the Spanish club as Chelsea manager Antonio Conte doesn't want him to remain at Stamford Bridge. Earlier this month Diego Costa made his disappointment public, revealing that he had received a message from manager Antonio Conte. The message said that the striker was no longer a part of the manager's long-term plans at Stamford Bridge and Costa was quite angry with the way he was treated by the boss.
Costa said: "I'm a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there. Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that's it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season. It's a shame, I've already forwarded the message to Chelsea people to decide. But it is clear that the coach does not count on me and does not want me there. It was just a message, after everything I did there. That's up to him - now I have to look for a team and play. The truth is I have to look for a team straight away and I'll have to see where I'll be playing next season."
However, joining Atletico Madrid would require Diego Costa to take a pretty long break from competitive football as the Spanish club are banned from signing players until January 2018. "To not play for four to five months is a bit difficult," Costa said. "People know that I love my Atletico team-mates and I love to live in Madrid, but I also need to think about my future. I always want to play and to be part of the Spain national team because it's a year where we have the World Cup next summer, so there's lots to consider. I need to play - that's it!"
Diego Costa is 5/2 at SkyBet to join Atletico Madrid this summer, even though the deal would only go through in January, and 2/1 to sign for AC Milan before the end of the summer transfer window.
06/22/17, 05:06:15 PM
