Breaking News: Diego Costa Will Not Play For Antonio Conte's Chelsea Again As Manager Banishes Striker From Training

Diego Costa Will Not Play For Antonio Conte's Chelsea Again As Manager Banishes Striker From Training

Diego Costa made it clear he wanted to leave Chelsea in midst of title fight 

Antonio Conte decided he wanted to move forward without striker in January

It seems last season's key performer has made last appearance for champions 

He said: 'For the club, for him and his agent and for me the situation is closed'

Diego Costa will not play for Antonio Conte at Chelsea again and has even been barred from joining the first-team group for training.

As the champions confirmed the signing of Alvaro Morata on a five-year deal, boss Conte also revealed that his decision to axe Costa from his future plans was made in January.

The striker made it clear at the turn of the year that he wanted a lucrative move to Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian. With Chelsea in the midst of a title fight, they resisted his demands but the manager's mind was made up and there is no way back.

Antonio Conte decided that Diego Costa's Chelsea future was over last January 

Costa informed the Blues three times that he wanted to leave the club last season

In January, the Costa situation was made very clear,' said Conte, speaking for the first time since his infamous post-season text-message exchange with the striker.

'For the club, for him and his agent and for me the situation is closed.' Costa told Chelsea he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge three times in 10 months.

The first was during last year's pre-season tour in the United States when he asked to return to Atletico Madrid, his former club. Conte, who had only just arrived at Chelsea, responded by dropping him from the team for two friendlies.

Then, Costa made it clear he wanted the mega-money move to Tianjin Quanjian in January and, at the end of the season, reiterated his desire to leave.