Costa exit from Chelsea was decided last January, says Conte

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that it was decided last January that Diego Costa would be leaving Chelsea this summer.

The Blues signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid this week as the player to lead their attacking line in their tite defence next season, with Costa now surplus to requirements.

Speaking to clarify the situation, Costa, said: “In January, the situation was very clear for the club, the player, for Costa, for his agent, that when we arrived in June then it would be finished. It was very clear from January. I took this decision in January and I respected my decision.

“I didn’t take the decision in June or in May. I took the decision in January. I would be surprised if someone was surprised about my decision now.”

Despite having a poor relationship with his manager, Costa was critical to Chelsea’s title-winning season, but Conte has backed Morata to be just as influential for the London club.

“I wanted Morata when I was at Juventus before I left,” Conte said. “In that period he was very young but now, with experience at Juventus and Real Madrid, he is ready to come to Chelsea and to play for us.

“He made a good step forward since three years ago; now he is one of the best strikers in Europe.

“He has great potential, he can improve a lot. Last season he didn’t play a lot of games but scored 20 goals [from 19 starts]. He is very young and has a lot of space and room to improve and I want to improve him a lot.”

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