MADRID, June 8 -- Chelsea's Spanish international striker Diego Costa will be quitting the Premier League over the summer, he confirmed in the Spanish media late on Tuesday night.
The man who helped Chelsea to the Premier League title told reporters after Spain's 2-2 draw in a friendly game with Colombia that this season's FA Cup final was his last dressed in a blue shirt, because Chelsea boss Antonio Conte doesn't want him.
"I received a simple message from the coach on my phone and he said he is not counting on me for next season," said Costa, who scored 20 goals in 35 league appearances for the English champions last year.
"It has to be because I have done badly this year," he said sarcastically. "It's a shame... but it is obvious that I'm not in the manager's plans and he doesn't want me there. I am on the market and I will look for a new team."
"If the manager doesn't want you there, you have to leave no matter what," he added.
Costa was asked about a possible return to Atletico Madrid, who he helped to win the 2017 Primera Liga title, but who are unable to make any signings this summer because of a FIFA ban.
"It would be nice to Atletico, but there is a lot to think about. There is a World Cup to think about and I need to play.
"It would be complicated to not play for four or five months, but people know that I love my teammates at Atletico very much," he concluded.
One possible solution that has been mooted in the Spanish press is for Atletico to buy Costa this summer and then loan him to the Chinese Super League until they can incorporate new signings in January 2018.