Diego Costa & Antonio Conte Beef Takes Another Turn

The striker said he has been fined several weeks’ wages as he defied demands to return to train with the reserves.

Earlier in the campaign, Costa had a bust-up in training with Conte as the forward wanted to join Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian – who were offering large sums of cash.

The 31-year-old scored 52 goals across three Premier League campaigns at Stamford Bridge and was a part of two title-winning squads but by the end was allegedly deemed surplus to requirements by the Italian.

Speaking in 2018 to Spanish outlet Marca, Costa explained his version of events.

The striker said: ‘It was a very bad moment but it wasn’t my fault. People said things, but time puts everything in its place.

‘Look where the coach is, look at Conte. I was wrong going to Chelsea because of their way of dealing with things.

‘Cholo [Diego Simeone] is a direct coach, and when he doesn’t love you, it’s clear and he facilitates it. At Chelsea it was the opposite.’

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He agreed a move back to Atletico in September 2017 but could not play for them until January because of the club’s embargo on registering new players.

In the current season that is yet to finish due to the coronavirus pandemic, Costa has scored twice in 19 appearances having struggled with a herniated disc.

Conte’s Inter Milan are nine points off leaders Juventus in Serie A with the league also suspended.