Premier League champions Chelsea are left confused by comments made by Diego Costa’s lawyer about the Spaniard being axed from the first-team.
Costa is set to part ways with Chelsea after boss Antonio Conte informed the Spaniard that he is no longer in his plans this season.
And Costa’s lawyer threatened the Blues of legal action and launched a stinging attack on Conte, who dismissed the striker via text.
Cardoso had told news agency EFE: “We are going to use all possible legal mechanisms to hold Chelsea responsible for their behaviour, making possible the departure of Diego Costa.”
“He will formally request the transfer.”
But according to the London Evening Standard, Chelsea are now surprised by Cardoso’s comments as Conte had made it clear in January the Spanish striker would be offloaded this summer.
Costa was heavily linked with a move to Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian but the Blues had blocked his transfer and the Spaniard had stayed back to guide Chelsea to Premier League triumph.
And Cardoso throws the blame on Conte, as he believes the Italian purposely waited till June to inform Costa of his decision instead of making it clear in January, claiming it was “inadmissible and inexcusable” to do so over text.
“When he was with the Spanish national team in June, he was dismissed from Chelsea by Antonio Conte through a text message,” Cardoso added.
“The way in which it was carried out and the fact that it came out in public shows unfair behaviour and a lack of respect for the player and it is inadmissible and inexcusable on Antonio Conte’s part.”
“Not only have Chelsea not intervened or denied it either in public or in private, but they have renewed Conte’s contract, demonstrating they agree with the dismissal of Diego Costa and the way in which it was processed.”
“This discriminatory behaviour makes it impossible for Diego Costa to return to Chelsea while Antonio Conte is the coach, there is no condition for him to continue playing at Chelsea, which has already been passed on to those responsible several times.”
Premier League champions Chelsea are set to pay Atletico-bound Diego Costa’s wages until January as the Spanish striker’s loan move to AC Milan has broken down.
And instead of offloading the Spaniard, Chelsea will have to pay a reported £185,000-a-week until Costa leaves Stamford Bridge next year.
That comes around £3.7million in total that the Blues will have to pay Costa for doing nothing – as he is very much out of Antonio Conte’s plans this season.
AC Milan have offered Costa an escape route out of Stamford Bridge – but only on a long-term deal.
FootTheBall had earlier reported that his agent Jorge Mends held meetings in the Italian capital with the Milan bosses over a move for Costa, but the Spaniard has made it clear that moving to Atletico Madrid is his top priority.
Costa was Chelsea’s highest goalscorer last season with 22 goals to his name – but he has no future under Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Conte had told Costa that he is not wanted at Chelsea next season and the Spanish striker was furious at the lack of respect the Blues boss showed by snubbing him by TEXT.
Costa had taken a U-turn and was willing to have showdown talks with boss Antonio Conte.
Diego Costa wanted to make peace with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, but the Italian wants him to leave the club this summer.
The Italian boss recently revealed Costa was as good as gone in January following a training ground bust-up, saying: “The only thing I can tell you, in January, the Costa situation was very clear, for the club for him and his agent.”
“For me the situation is closed.”
And when the Blues had announced the signing of Alvaro Morata on Instagram, Costa had trolled the London club by hitting the like button on the post.
Conte immediately took a dig at Costa by saying: “This is a good signing for us.”
“Morata is a young player but has a lot of experience and played in the past with Real Madrid, Juventus and Real Madrid again.”
“He has a lot of experience in the league and the Champions League. He is young and can improve a lot. This is a good signing for us.”
Earlier, the Spanish international was also filmed partying in an old Atletico Madrid shirt and taking a dig at Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
The Spaniard is currently in limbo – he is not wanted anymore at Stamford Bridge and is not closing in on a move to Atletico Madrid.
His Chelsea team-mates are on a pre-season tour in Singapore, but he is still in Brazil on his extended break.
Costa has two years left on his Chelsea contract and is hoping that super-agent can find a way for him to get back to Atletico Madrid – without having to get there via a loan move to Milan.
La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are in pole position to sign him but their transfer ban that runs until January next year has made the transfer difficult.
Costa had to report for training at Cobham last week but he was been given a week off to secure his switch to Atletico Madrid.
The La Liga club can still buy new players but they cannot register them due to a Fifa transfer embargo which will end in January 2018.
The Spanish striker can opt to sit it out until their ban on signing players finishes in January.
But it is understood that Costa would like to get back to regular action as soon as possible in a bid to register a place in the Spain international squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He could also end up at Chelsea’s Cobham training base until the next transfer window opens.
But Conte would not want him to disturb the atmosphere of the dressing room as the Italian is desperate to defend the Premier League title this season.
And this could see Costa spending more time back in Brazil, training alone – but at the expense of the Blues.