Costa preparing for Chelsea exit after Conte snub

He was the leading goalscorer in Chelsea’s romp to the Premier League title last term, but it appears controversial striker Diego Costa is resigned to exiting the club this summer.

Rumours were rife throughout the second half of the season that the 28-year-old Spain international could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, and Costa claimed last week manager Antonio Conte had informed him via text message that he was surplus to requirements.

Rather than looking to the Far East and a big-money move to China, Costa – who scored 26 goals in 46 games for the Premier League champions last season – does not want to jeopardise his World Cup chances in 2018.

But the striker believes there is no point staying at Chelsea if he is not wanted, even if a move back to Atletico Madrid would mean going out on loan until January due to their transfer embargo.

“Things don’t work like that. The fight for a place has to be fair,” said Costa, after scoring in Spain’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Macedonia on Sunday.

“When there is a fair fight, you stay and fight but if there isn’t, then you have to go.

“You need to ask Conte what has happened – he’s the coach and if he has the option of signing someone else and doesn’t want to have problems with a senior player, then that’s normal.

“But there are ways of saying things, ways of doing things.

“Thanks to God I’m not lacking teams [to join]. If Chelsea don’t want me, I will choose the best option for me.

“Everyone knows that Atletico is a club that I have a lot of love for. Regardless of if I return or not, I’m always going to continue loving them.

“Signing for Atletico wouldn’t mean not playing. I could go (on loan) to some team in Spain, in Italy, in Brazil – wherever I can continue playing.

“I rule out China. I have to think about my future, I have to think about the World Cup. If I fight and I do things well, I’ll have every chance of going to the World Cup. I cannot go to China.”