Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told Diego Costa he had no future at the club in a text message.
The Italian ruthlessly informed the Spaniard to find a new club, with Spanish media getting a copy of the text exchange between the pair.
Conte has reportedly contacted a number of Chelsea players this week to outline plans for the summer and the start of next season.
When it came time to text Costa – Conte informed the 28-year-old that his Chelsea career was effectively over: "Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the seasono we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan”
The decision to banish the striker was according to some reports the result of an earlier text exchange between the pair.
A mock-up of the text exchange between Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and striker Diego Costa
Conte is said to have text the players reminding them to return for pre-season in good shape, Costa’s response to this message appears to have sealed his fate.
Costa refused to be drawn on what happened before he was told he was no longer needed: “The other day, Conte sent me a message saying he does not count on me for next season,’ Costa told the Spanish media.
“So I’ll have to find a way out. If the manager gets in contact to tell you that you are not wanted then you have to leave.”
