Diego Costa has urged Chelsea not to price him out of a move to Atletico Madrid.
The Chelsea striker is currently in Brazil and has refused to return to London to rejoin Antonio Conte’s squad, despite the club’s demands he must resume training and fight for a place.
Costa believes Chelsea are denying him his wish to return to Atletico in the hope of receiving a higher offer from elsewhere, but the forward insists he will not let the Blues dictate his next move.
“Chelsea have offered me to several clubs, but I was very clear with them,” Costa, who has scored 59 goals in 120 appearances since moving to Stamford Bridge for £32m from Atletico in 2014, told ESPN Brazil.
“I said that if I’m not part of the manager’s plans, I would like to choose my destination. I’m not going to let them decide just to get more money.
“When I came to Chelsea they paid a lot less compared to what’s being offered to them. I think they should take into account everything that I’ve done. It’s not my fault that I’m not at the club. If it was down to me I’d be playing. It’s already been one month. Holidays are good but it gets tiresome.
“I didn’t provoke the situation, but now that it’s come to this the club has to think in two ways. Of course they need to get something back [in a sporting sense], like I gave them on the pitch, but financial as well. After three years they will receive a fee higher than what they paid.”
Chelsea boss Conte reportedly texted Costa in June informing the striker he was not part of his future plans, but the 28-year-old is adamant the English club’s high demands remains the stumbling block on a return to Atletico.
He added: “I know that this will happen, but if it’s to pay the amount that Chelsea want it won’t be possible.”
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