Diego Costa's Chelsea stint ended in acrimonious circumstances after a frank text exchange from Antonio Conte - with the striker making his feelings clear on his ex-boss
Diego Costa and Antonio Conte's relationship ended badly
Diego Costa and Antonio Conte's relationship ended badly(Image: PA)
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Diego Costa has claimed that Antonio Conte was someone who had no trust and "nobody liked him" following the pair spat at Chelsea - which ended with the forward quitting the club.
Costa was integral to the Premier League title won by the Blues in what was the Italian's first year as boss. Conte arrived with a big reputation and the Brazilian led the frontline impressively as the west Londoners won the title in, what was then, record-breaking fashion.
Costa scored 22 times during a season that saw Chelsea embark on a 14-game winning run, but after they had claimed the title things quickly turned sour between Conte and his striker.
He was dropped amid strong interest from the Chinese Super League. During the summer Conte would inform Costa he could leave via text message. It reportedly read: "Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the season we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan."
Conte moved that summer to bring in Alvaro Morata as his replacement, which further ignited the feud between the two. It ended with Costa re-joining Atletico Madrid, but the bad blood remains.
Costa said on the Obi One podcast: "He is a person who doesn’t trust others. He thinks he knows everything. You don’t enjoy training with him, he’s always angry, always with a long face. The players wanted to come back but nobody liked him and that’s why he didn’t last long. The past is the past."
Conte's second season at Chelsea would also prove to be his last as the team endured a notable dip under him. A 3-0 loss to Newcastle on the final day saw them finish fifth and miss out on the Champions League. An FA Cup victory somewhat salvaged the season, but the Italian was still given his marching orders.
The striker was hugely complimentary about Jose Mourinho, the man who signed him
The striker was hugely complimentary about Jose Mourinho, the man who signed him(Image: )
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In stark contrast to his feelings about Conte, Costa has lauded Jose Mourinho. It was the Special One who bought the striker to Stamford Bridge and the pair won the title and the Carabao Cup in their first season together back in 2015.
"For me, Mourinho, personally, was the coach that I enjoyed the most," he said. "This is because he gives you life. You come to training happy."
Costa has also played for Atletico Mineiro, Wolves and Botafogo. Now the veteran forward finds himself without a club after his contract with Brazilian outfit Gremio expired earlier this month.
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