Diego Costa to continue Brazil exile as striker tells Chelsea: I'll NEVER return- Diego Costa is currently on exile in Brazil following a fall-out with Antonio Conte
- Striker dismissed pleas to return to London - and has no intention of ending exile
- Costa, 28, told Sportsmail that he is only considering a return to Atletico Madrid
- Costa also claimed Chelsea will force him to train with reserve team if he returns
- The wantaway striker posted an Instagram picture of his workout on Thursday
Diego Costa's war with Chelsea has intensified after the striker dismissed pleas to return to London and said he has no intention of ending his exile in Brazil. Costa is living at his childhood home in Lagarto after manager Antonio Conte told him by text message that he no longer forms part of his plans. Costa also claims Chelsea will force him to train with the reserves if he returns. He has been fined £300,000 and can expect more if he continues to stay away. Atletico Madrid may reimburse Costa for his fines if a deal can be completed before the end of the summer window.
Chelsea have this week issued new demands for him to return but Costa publicly defied the club once more on Thursday.
After holding a meeting with the Football Association of Sergipe, a state in north-east Brazil, Costa said: 'My destination is already made. I must return to Atletico Madrid.
'There is an impasse as Chelsea do not want to release me. But I believe this situation will be resolved now on my return to Spain.'
It comes as pressure grows on Conte, whose players are becoming bewildered by the club's transfer policy.
Several first-team members are frustrated the squad has not been strengthened after last season's Premier League title success.
They also have some sympathy with Costa, and Brazilian winger Willian is understood to be fearful he may be the next to be cut adrift by Conte.
Sources close to the dressing room believe Conte does not entirely trust Willian.
As for Costa, the path is now being set for a dramatic legal battle.
The Professional Footballers' Association could provide an emergency solution to the escalating contractual dispute, but only if Costa asks the players' union for support.Costa's lawyers may try to extricate him from the final two years of his contract on a free transfer on the basis that Conte has no intention of playing him and he cannot do his job. Chelsea have informed Costa he is expected to return to training, get in shape and fight for his place in the team within the terms of his contract.
But he told Sportsmail on Monday he had no intention of returning to 'an ugly life' training with the reserves in London.
Chelsea are examining the details of a similar case between Carlos Tevez and Manchester City which also descended into legal threats before it was resolved with an apology from Tevez and his return to the club.
City threatened to sue Tevez for lost transfer value while he was away from the club.
However, a spokesman for Howard Kennedy Sports Law team explained: 'Costa might argue that the alleged text message is highly demeaning of a player of his calibre and profile and this breached the mutual trust and confidence between employer and employee.'
Jake Calvert, a member of Howard Kennedy's Sports Law team, believes Costa could make a legitimate grievance of constructive dismissal.
Calvert added: 'Costa would need to show that the actions of Conte were so serious that it entitles him to terminate the contract. He would need to be sure not to take any steps to affirm that contract — by, for example, asking Chelsea to continue to pay him.
'That he remains in Brazil and has publicly stated that he is prepared to spend the whole season without being paid by Chelsea certainly indicates that he has been advised on how best to protect his position regarding any claim for constructive dismissal.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4800598/Diego-Costa-tells-Chelsea-NEVER-return.html#ixzz4q7dLtbvQ
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