Costa should have left in January, says Conte

Antonio Conte indicated that he decided in January to allow Diego Costa to leave Chelsea.

Conte and Costa reportedly fell out after the Italian refused to let the striker join Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian.

Costa was subsequently dropped from the Chelsea squad for the Premier League game against Leicester City, although he returned to help Conte's men claim the Premier League title, scoring 20 goals over the course of the campaign.

The Spain international is now widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge, with a return to former club Atletico Madrid mooted, and Chelsea have signed Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata as his replacement.

"The only thing I can tell you is that in January, the Costa situation was very clear, for the club for him and his agent. For me, the situation is closed," Conte said.

UCJ, UNILORIN.