Photo: Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images
Antonio Conte is in the market for a new striker, and it seems the Italian is already fed up with current striker Diego Costa.
Costa reportedly told Conte at the beginning of the season that he wanted to leave Chelsea, and the striker has now claimed that Conte has told him to leave the club.
The striker told reporters after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia on Wednesday that the Blues boss has informed him via text message that he doesn’t have a future at Chelsea.
“I had a simple little message on my mobile from Conte in which he said that he isn’t counting on me for next season,” Costa told the media following Spain’s 2-2 friendly draw with Colombia on Wednesday.
“It will be because I’ve done badly this year. It’s a shame. I’ve forwarded the message on to the people at the club for them to decide but it’s clear that the coach isn’t counting on me and he doesn’t want me there.
“I’m on the market and so I’m looking for a team. If the coach doesn’t want you, you have to leave.”
The 28-year-old then revealed he’d love to go back to Atletico Madrid.
“It would be nice to go back to Atletico but I have to think everything over,” he said. “There’s a World Cup [in 2018] and I need to play. Being four or five months without playing is tough, but people know that I love my Atletico team-mates a lot, I love living in Madrid.”
Spanish radio station: Diego Costa says Antonio Conte has told him he can leave Chelsea https://t.co/Iz8iTDT061
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 7, 2017
Diego #Costa after Spain-Colombia: "Conte has sent me a message to tell me I am not in his plans for #Chelsea"
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) June 7, 2017
