Wantaway Chelsea striker, Diego Costa, has claimed that coach Antonio Conte has told him he is not wanted at the club next season.
Costa, who is away on international duty with Spain after helping Chelsea to win the Premier League title last season, has been linked with a move to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian having seen a potential return to Atlético Madrid collapse after the Spanish side’s transfer ban was upheld.
But with Chelsea interested in a move for Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, the 28-year-old revealed after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia on Wednesday night that Conte had sent him a message this week to inform him that he does not expect the player who scored 20 Premier League goals last season to be a part of his squad next season.
“My relationship with the coach has been bad this season. I suppose I’ve had a bad season so I can’t go on,” Costa said.
“I’m going to be honest, the other day, Conte sent me a message saying he does not count on me for next season, so I’ll have to find a way out.”
He did admit that he suffered a dip in the second half of last season.
“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.”
A return to Spain is not the best option now as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) refused to uphold Atletico’s appeal against a ban on registering new players handed down by FIFA, which means they will be unable to field any new signings until January next year.
“I love living in Madrid, but I have to think about my future. It’s complicated because I cannot go four or five months without playing. I have no preference for a league, I just want to play.”
Diego Costa has already made clear his reluctance to move to China, although it remains unclear whether he has other suitors in Europe.
Belgian striker, Michy Batshuayi, who scored the goal that confirmed Chelsea’s Premier League triumph, has also insisted he will not tolerate another season as a bit-part player at the club as he targets a place at the World Cup in Russia.
