Diego
Costa will not be part of Chelsea's season-opener against Burnley - just 81
days after he celebrated the Premier League title with his team-mates.
The 28-year-old Spain international, who scored 20 league goals for the
champions, remains exiled from the club having been told he has no future
under boss Antonio Conte.
Costa has not been to Chelsea's Cobham training ground since the end of last
season and has been posting pictures on Instagram from his hometown of
Lagarto in Brazil just days before the new season begins.
Costa wants to go back to former club Atletico Madrid and they are
interested, but they will not touch the Blues asking price of £50m, with two
years left to run on the player's current contract.
At the Premier League launch in central London on Wednesday, Conte would not
be drawn into a discussion about Costa's future, insisting his position is
"the same" as it has been all summer. "I think I was very clear," he said.
"It's not important to repeat it."
Chelsea's striker options for the season opener at Stamford Bridge are new
signing Alvaro Morata and Belgium international Michy Batshuayi - and Conte
has suggested he will start with the new £70m addition from Real Madrid.
"Alvaro is a really good player, he's still young despite having a lot of
experience," he said. "He needs to play regularly, he's a player I trust a
lot.
"I think he has good prospects for Chelsea - for now and the future. Will he
start this weekend? He's working very well and starting to understand or
idea of football."
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