Diego Costa to submit transfer request

Diego Costa will submit a transfer request at Chelsea and only wants to join Atletico Madrid due to the ‘respect’ they have for him, confirmed his lawyer.

Speaking on Thursday, lawyer Ricardo Cardoso explained the 28-year-old wanted a return to Los Rojiblancos three years after leaving for Stamford Bridge and would force through a move.

"We are going to activate all the legal mechanisms [to secure Costa's exit] and formally present a transfer request," the lawyer is quoted as saying by EFE.

"In three seasons at Chelsea he won two championships, and was the decisive player in those victories.

"When he was already with the Spain national team and before travelling to Brazil to enjoy his holidays, he was released from Chelsea by SMS by the coach Antonio Conte.

“Obviously, this release, in the way it was done, and how it became known by everyone, was unfair treatment and a lack of respect to the player on the part of Conte which is unacceptable and inexcusable.

"Chelsea have not just not denied nor corrected the Coach, either in public or private, but instead renewed his contract. This shows that they knew about and were in agreement with the release of Diego Costa and the way it was done.

"Such discriminatory behaviour makes it impossible for Costa to return to Chelsea while Antonio Conte is Coach. There is no way that he can continue to play for Chelsea, a message which has been communicated various times to those in charge there.

"And he will not play for any other club which is not Atletico Madrid, a club where he had sporting success, but above all where he was always respected, even after he had joined Chelsea."

Tags Chelsea Diego Costa
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