Beijing, July 22: Antonio Conte's decision to sell club top scorer Diego Costa was talk of the town for quite some period and for the first time in almost two months the Italian manager broke his silence over the matter.
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While Speaking at a news conference, ahead of their friendly against Arsenal in Beijing the Italian manager claimed that Costa and his agent were told six months ago that he would be moved on this summer and for him the situation is now closed.
The 28-year-old was believed to be unsettled at Chelsea last season as many reports claimed that the Spanish international was eager for a move to China for big money. There were also reports that both the player and manager Conte had a little bit of tussle over the situation.
But at last Chelsea persuaded Costa to stay for the remainder of the season. However, the Blues boss has now revealed that he decided to cut his losses on the unsettled forward at the start of the new year, indicating of their fall out last year.
“I don't like to talk about players who are not here but the only thing I can tell you is that in January, the Costa situation was very clear, for the club for him and his agent. For me the situation is closed," Conte said.
The rebel Chelsea striker is now widely expected to return to his old club Atletico Madrid this summer, just three years after moving from the Spanish capital to Stamford Bridge.
The striker also already hinted at his future plans earlier this week when he shared a video of himself holidaying in Brazil wearing an Atletico Madrid jersey.
There's NO WAY Diego Costa is staying at Chelsea after this 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/T4A2iNx5Sb
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) July 17, 2017
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