28-year-old Diego Costa has disclosed that Antonio Conte has told him that he is not part of his plans for Chelsea next season.
Costa scored 20 goals in 35 league appearances in their title-winning campaign last season, but has revealed he received a text from his Italian boss and will now be looking for his next club.
Speaking after Wednesday night’s Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia, Costa said: “I’m a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there.
“Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that’s it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season.
“It’s a shame, I’ve already forwarded the message to Chelsea people to decide. But it is clear that the coach does not count on me and does not want me there. You have to find a team.”
The Spain international, who didn’t play against Colombia, has always stated a desire to one day return to Atletico Madrid where he played between 2010-2014.
But any move to be reunited with former boss Diego Simeone in La Liga is not possible until at least February because of Atletico’s transfer ban.
Heading to China could also be back on the cards with Sky sources reporting in May that Super League club Tianjin Quanjian were confident of landing Costa in the summer.
Conte repeatedly said during the season he could not guarantee Costa would stay, but Conte continued to pick his top scorer in the Premier League finale.
Costa missed Chelsea’s trip to Leicester in January when Sky sources said a training-ground row ended with Conte telling the player to “go to China”.
