Diego Costa: I am not a criminal and Chelsea can’t force me to train with the reserves

DIEGO COSTA has admitted he’s not expecting Antonio Conte to change his mind and pave his return to Chelsea.
Diego Costa was informed by Conte in June via text message telling him he wasn’t a part of his long-term plans.

The 28-year-old striker last played for the Blues in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal in May at Wembley.

Costa, who hit 20 goals in 35 Premier League games for the Blues last term, has been continually linked with a return to Atletico Madrid.

This is despite the La Liga outfit currently serving a transfer ban which will be lifted in January.

And Costa feels like he has been treated like a ‘criminal’ by the club.
“They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn’t be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys,” Costa told the Daily Mail.

“I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.

“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.




“I take the hit every week but I’m not driven by money. The important thing is to be happy with how I live.

“I’m here with my parents and people who respect me.”

Costa has also revealed he has refused to delete the original text Conte sent him.

He added: “I was with the Spain national team, alone in my room, when it came through.

“It was a shock to get it like that. I was showing it to my team-mates and they could not believe how he had done it.

“I was angry at the time. Now I am more calm. I have not deleted the message. If people accuse me of lying, I can show them.

“It was clear, saying that he didn’t count on me and wishing me the best for the future. Full stop.”

Source:www.express.co.uk