Out- of – favour Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched an angry broadside against both the club and manager Antonio Conte , accusing them of treating him like a “criminal ” .
Costa , 28 , has been informed by Conte that he has no future at the club and having been frozen out of the first – team squad , the Brazil- born Spain international has gone home to Brazil .
He says Chelsea “want to sell me to China” , but has reiterated his desire to return to former club Atletico Madrid, who are under a transfer ban until January .
“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 ,” Costa said in an interview published in Monday ’ s 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 .
“They gave me a week extra off, but since then it ’ s fines all the way . They want me training with the reserves . I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here.
“So , if they need to fine me, let them fine me.”
Costa was particularly scathing in his criticism of Conte , who led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
“I respect him as a great coach . He has done a good job and I can see that . But as a person — no ,” said Costa , who was speaking in his hometown of Lagarto in northeastern Brazil .
“He is not a coach who is very close with his players . He is very distant . He doesn ’ t possess charisma.”
Faced with Atletico ’ s inability to recruit players , Costa said he would rather spend a year not playing than join another club.
“My desire is to go to Atletico ,” he said . “I have rejected other offers . They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I’ m off, I ’ m going to the club I want to go to , not the club that’ s paying the most .
“I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don’ t pay me. I ’ ll come back stronger . If I was in the wrong , I’ d go back now and do as they say.”
Chelsea opened their title defence in disastrous fashion on Saturday , losing 3 – 2 at home to Burnley , with Costa ’ s replacement Alvaro Morata coming off the bench to score.
AFP
