Diego Costa has been told by his manager Antonio Conte he does not have a future at the club but with the club yet to accept an offer for his services, Costa tells them, ‘why not let me go’.
The 28-year old has been on the peripheries of Conte’s squad since the close of last season despite his goal scoring heroics that bailed the Blues from desperate situations last campaign.
Many expected the bond between player and club to continue next season as Conte creates his legacy, but the Italian tactician wants to do it without Costa.
In his response, Costa wants to leave for Atletico Madrid, the club he was bought from in 2015, but Chelsea want a big offer for the Spaniard and will not accept fees below their expectations in a bloated transfer market.
Costa tells the Premier League champions he wants to leave and an offer from Diego Simeone’s side should be accepted.
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. At the moment, no. I want people to do things the right way.
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.
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.
Diego Simeone (Atletico manager) wants me. It is very clear. I have always had a bond with him. The fans and people love me there. They respect me.
Diego Costa, Daily Mail
Chelsea replaced Costa with Alvaro Morata, who was bought from Real Madrid this summer for £58 million, scoring on his Premier League debut while registering an assist in the process.
