Diego Costa could be Antonio Conte’s first bad hand at Chelsea, they must get him off their books before heading for pre-season
Two years ago it was bad enough when the striker came back from his break a few pounds heavy but this year it will be even more awkward
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DIEGO COSTA is due to report back for pre-season training with Chelsea in just three days’ time.
Two years ago it was bad enough when the Spaniard came in several pounds overweight after enjoying his summer break a little too much.
This year it is going to be even more awkward as the maverick striker with a big voice told the world he has no future at the club.
It’s going to be red-faces all round when Costa steps on the scales.
And boss Antonio Conte is going to be feeling the heat as much as anyone.
In a fit of temper at dissension from his star striker, the hot-headed Italian lost his temper.
That would be fine as long as his superiors at Chelsea could work quickly enough to get in a replacement.
But that hasn’t happened. The behind the scenes haggling with Everton over Romelu Lukaku goes on, Alvaro Morata’s head is being turned by Manchester United.
Chelsea are not going to sanction any move out of the club for Costa until a new man is sorted and that doesn’t look like happening any time soon.
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Certainly not by Friday.
Chelsea’s board of directors were taken by surprise when Conte went rogue and told Costa he was finished with him in a spat over summer fitness levels.
That’s all well and good when you’re in the driving seat and you haven’t just rubbished your main striker’s reputation via text message.
Conte has put Chelsea in a corner.
They need to work fast to get their transfer targets in now or face the embarrassment of taking a clearly unsettled Costa with them on a pre-season trip to China.
Conte doesn’t want him there and the player doesn’t want to be there. But the terms of the contract which still has two years to run dictate that it looks like that is what will happen.
When you trash talk someone in private and then they go public like Costa did you have played the wrong hand.
The onus is all on Chelsea to get rid of the player, Costa wants to go go back to his old club Atletico Madrid but their transfer embargo makes that rather difficult.
So he sits back on two years’ pay and makes a thorough nuisance of himself while running down his deal at Chelsea’s expense.
This could well be the first bad hand that Conte has played - and a costly one at that.
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