Diego Costa’s legal representatives have threatened to take action against Chelsea for what they claim was the player’s dismissal through a text message.
Striker Diego Costa is known both as a player of excellent quality and also as someone who likes to rock the boat he is riding on. His situation at Chelsea, the club he has won the title for in England last season, is still unclear. The player had a public falling out with manager Antonio Conte at the end of last season. He was not part of the roster of players beginning training with the team for the new campaign. However, he has not yet signed a contract with another team either.
Now, Costa through his legal representative Ricardo Cardoso, has threatened to take action against the London club. It is claimed that the Spaniard was fired from the team, by manager Antonio Conte, through a text message. Chelsea has defended itself with director of communications Steve Atkins saying: “the premise the lawyer has put forward is wrong”.
It is understood that Costa had told Chelsea reps during mid-season that he was considering leaving the team and choosing a very lucrative deal in the Chinese Super League. There was understandable friction between the manager and player, but Diego Costa got to play for Chelsea in the last games of the season and won the championship with the club. Chelsea representatives informed Costa at the beginning of the transfer window that he was free to leave. Teams such as AC Milan and Atletico Madrid are said to have discussed a deal with the player.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he is surprised of the lawyers’ involvement in the matter. He says that a discussion was held and the club’s position was made clear. Conte does not specify what that is. However, judging by the fact that Chelsea moved to transfer another high profile striker in the meantime, Alvaro Moratta from Real Madrid, it is to be assumed they won’t be welcoming Costa back to Chelsea any time soon.
“The player, his agent and the club knew very well the position of the player in the summer. I don’t understand why the lawyer gets involved. I don’t understand this, but the situation is very clear and always the same. For me this is the past,” Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told reporters.
