REVEALED: The Stone Cold Antonio Conte Text Message That Has Ended Diego Costa's Chelsea Career
"I'm a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there. Conte has sent me a message that I will not continue at Chelsea and that's it. Conte said he will not count on me for next season."
These were the words uttered by Diego Costa to the media this week as his whirlwind Chelsea career draws to a close after just three seasons at Stamford Bridge.
In the days that have followed, AS in Spain have learned the exact content of the message in question and have shared for the world to see just how Antonio Conte went about telling his title winning top goalscorer that his services were no longer required.
"Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the seasono [sic] we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan," the breezy but rather blunt text read.
It is said that Costa's response was nothing more than just 'OK'.
While Conte retains the support from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - the Russian billionaire is said to have ended the direct lines of communication to him previously enjoyed by the likes of John Terry and Didier Drogba, preventing Costa from going over the manager's head in a bid to stay - the Italian's off-book message hasn't pleased the club hierarchy.
With Costa's decision to go public, Chelsea's selling position has been significantly weakened.
It is now actively known that they are keen to get him of the player, which harms their ability to command a good price, while Costa has proof that the club has instigated his now inevitable exit and could therefore be entitled to a departing loyalty bonus.
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155