Chelsea star Diego Costa opens up over Antonio Conte feud for first time since agreeing £67m move to Atletico Madrid
The AWOL striker, exclusively snapped leaving Brazil yesterday, should sign on in the Spanish capital in the next 24 hours
DIEGO COSTA insists he has no beef with Antonio Conte after opening up for the first time since agreeing a £67million return to Atletico Madrid.
The AWOL striker, exclusively snapped leaving Brazil yesterday, should sign on in the Spanish capital in the next 24 hours.
It brings to an end the bitter saga that began with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte dumping him by text at the start of the summer.
Speaking to Splash News as he prepared to jet out of Sao Paulo, Costa said: "There's nothing of the sort there, I'm not upset with anybody.
"I have no bitterness towards anyone. Everything is cool."
Asked if he had a message for the Chelsea fans, he added: "Everybody knows how much I love the fans."
When Nemanja Matic left in the summer, the Serb was given a gushing 711-word tribute by the club, despite Costa the fact he was going to big Prem rivals Manchester United.
The transfer is the biggest in Chelsea's history and brings an end to a summer-long feud.
The stroppy striker has been in Brazil since July since receiving Conte's text and was even pictured partying while wearing an Atletico shirt.
Chelsea ordered him to return to London and get fit but Costa refused.
Once Atletico came up with the huge transfer fee, plus a further £7m in add-ons, the deal was done.
And Chelsea are rubbing their hands with glee after making a huge profit on a player who cost them £32m from the Madrid outfit four years ago.
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The 28-year-old needs to pass a medical and agree personal terms with Atletico, where he is still loved by fans, but they are seen as formalities.
Chelsea say that means it will technically be a loan deal until the transfer ban ends.
But, ironically, Costa could be acting as an Atletico cheerleader when they host Blues in a Champions League clash on Wednesday.
He is expected to attend the La Liga match with Sevilla tomorrow.
Filipe Luis, who moved from Atletico to Blues just six weeks after Costa in 2014 before returning to the Spanish capital, says he will be delighted to have his pal back home.
Luis, 32, said: "He is one of the three best strikers in the world. He’ll be a great influence to everyone around him.”
"I’m really very pleased that he’s come back.
"It was a complicated time during the summer, but we are very glad he is here, he’s very, very important for the team. We are very proud of what the club has done to bring him here.
"I am very happy that my friend is coming back.
"When he starts to play in January, it will be just like when he was here before, he’s one of us.
"Diego always said he wanted to come back, he always made that clear, and perhaps that made the situation a little more difficult but it’s normal, and we knew he wanted to come back."
Blues legend John Terry posted a gushing tribute on his Instagram page.
Terry wrote: "An unbelievable player and one of the nicest and funniest guys I have met in football, playing against him in training and games was an absolute nightmare, one of the best and underrated players I have played with and against.
"He gave everything for our club every time he wore a Chelsea shirt and was a born winner. Going to miss you mate. Good luck to you and your family."
