Chronicle Editor
Cape Town — Diego Costa will hand in a formal transfer request to leave Chelsea, the striker’s lawyer has confirmed.
Despite netting 20 Premier League goals for the champions last season, Costa has been told he is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans at Chelsea and is expected to depart after the capture of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old has been linked with several clubs, including AC Milan, Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjian and his former employers Atletico Madrid.
But lawyer Ricardo Cardoso has confirmed that Costa will formally ask to leave Chelsea and wants to return to Atletico.
“We are going to activate all the legal mechanisms and formally present a transfer request,” he said.
“Obviously, this release, in the way it was done, and how it became known by everyone, was unfair treatment and a lack of respect to the player on the part of Conte which is unacceptable and inexcusable.
“Chelsea have not just not denied nor corrected the coach, either in public or private, but instead renewed his contract. This shows that they knew about and were in agreement with the release of Diego Costa and the way it was done.
“Such discriminatory behaviour makes it impossible for Costa to return to Chelsea while Antonio Conte is coach. There is no way that he can continue to play for Chelsea, a message which has been communicated various times to those in charge there.
“And he will not play for any other club which is not Atletico Madrid, a club where he had sporting success, but above all where he was always respected, even after he had joined Chelsea.” — Sport24.
Online Reporter