Diego Costa: Why does he want Chelsea transfer? Where did it all go wrong? What next?
GETTY Chelsea transfer news: Diego Costa wants to join Atletico Madrid
Express Sport bring you a rundown of the latest on the striker. When did this all start? Costa signed for Chelsea from Atletico Madrid for £32million on a five-year contract in July 2014, but there have been continual reports of a move back to the Spanish capital ever since. Hamstring problems plagued his first season but the striker still scored 20 goals in Chelsea's 2014-15 title-winning campaign. There were also on-field disciplinary issues accompanied by retrospective suspensions which led Costa to consider leaving England. Some Chelsea supporters also blamed him for Jose Mourinho's departure in December 2015. He reestablished their faith and scored 20 goals in a second Premier League title success last season.
GETTY Diego Costa has fallen out with Antonio Conte at Chelsae
What about his relationship with Antonio Conte? Costa was integral to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, leading the forward line with a snarl as arch-antagonist and chief goalscorer. His importance was similar to Conte's Chelsea side last season, with some suggesting the Blues would not have won the title if they had let Costa leave in January. That was when the major fissures occurred as Costa was left out of the team for the win at Leicester following reports of a behind-the-scenes row over a mega-money move to China. Publicly Conte insisted it was because of a back injury.
Chelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil Wed, July 26, 2017 Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil Play slideshow 1 of 5
GETTY Diego Costa is desperate to move back to his old club Atletico Madrid
If he was so important, why is he surplus to requirements at Chelsea? Conte may have decided Costa was not worth the trouble. The celebrations after the title-clinching win at West Brom in May included Costa, perhaps jokingly, brandishing a fire extinguisher while Conte spoke to a group of journalists. It was a tiny snippet of what it might be like to manage Costa on a daily basis. Plus, if he has agitated for a move, the striker's loyalty may be in question. Costa is also 29 in October, so Conte may want a younger man to lead his team. He has now got Alvaro Morata.