Chelsea’s top scorer Diego Costa has been left out of the squad for their Premier League clash with Leicester City, amid talk of a bust-up with manager Antonio Conte.
The Spanish international has 14 league goals so far this season, more than any other player in the top flight, and found the net just seven minutes into the reverse fixture in October.
But Costa has reportedly fallen out with Conte after complaining of back problems, claims which the Daily Mail reports have been dismissed by the club’s staff.
According to the paper, Conte has sided with his staff on the matter, casting doubt on Costa’s Blues future.
The Mail also reports that Costa’s representatives are in China to negotiate a deal for the divisive striker to move to the lucrative Chinese Super League.
Chelsea fans are torn on the matter, with some remaining loyal to their striker.
Assuming this is true we MUST sack Conte https://t.co/7Q28dF2xUC
— Ben (@CriminalCosta) January 13, 2017
Not everyone, though.
Doubt this Costa bollocks is fully true. And if he wants China fuck him off, no one's bigger than the club so fair play to Conte.
— Fieldy ⭐⭐ (@FieldyCFC) January 13, 2017
And others seem convinced that Costa is on his way out.
Diego Costa's head has been turned by interest from China, where he would become the highest paid player in the world
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesSoccer) January 13, 2017
That's Costa off to China then
— Bwlch y Groes (@bwlch_y_groes) January 13, 2017
Theories began to emerge about how it all panned out.
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/819972917517840384
Or what it means.
This Conte-Costa fight is a huge staged operation to act as another way of mocking Batshuayi when they still refuse to play him.
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) January 13, 2017
It feels a bit out of character for Costa. No, wait, the other thing.
Feel like Diego Costa must surely have completed the Angry Footballer's perfect hat-trick of "bust-up", "fracas" and "row" by now.
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) January 13, 2017
It also feels a bit out of character for Conte. No, wait, we really need to stop saying things like this.
https://twitter.com/ThatDamnYank/status/819980688275304448
Could it provide an opportunity for someone else to challenge Costa in the race for the golden boot? Hey, stranger things have happened.
Costa leaving would be a great opportunity for another Spurs golden boot, wonder if Janssen could do it
— Billie (@Billie_T) January 13, 2017
Timing’s everything, isn’t it.
https://twitter.com/FutbolsaCountry/status/819975428693757953
