Such is the desperation of Diego Costa to leave Chelsea this summer, his lawyer has revealed the player will submit a transfer request to accelerate the process.
The Spain international may have top scored as the Blues won the Premier League title last season, but his relationship with head coach Antonio Conte has been stormy to say the least. In January a lucrative move to China was blocked, and this resulted in the striker suffering a noticeable dip in form.
Costa made it known earlier this summer that he received a text message from Conte informing him that he was now surplus to requirements, since when a club record fee has been paid for Alvaro Morata, who linked up with the Stamford Bridge outfit following a £58million move from Real Madrid.
This means with the season just around the corner, Costa faces an uncertain future. He is said to be eager to return to his former club, Atletico Madrid, and as much as he would be welcomed back with open arms their transfer ban means they are unable to make a move for him until the New Year.
There have been strong suggestions that the 28-year-old could be loaned to Milan for the first part of the season, following which Los Rojiblancos would return him to the Spanish capital. This would likely suit all parties, but at the moment, there seems to be little activity to reach an agreement.
Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, Costa’s lawyer Ricardo Cardoso has confirmed the player will hand in a transfer request to leave Chelsea. He then added: “We are going to use all legal mechanisms to hold Chelsea accountable for this behaviour, making it possible for Diego Costa to leave.”
