Regardless of how this all began or who exactly started this whole mess, Diego Costa seems determined to burn his bridges at Chelsea and ensure that despite Granovskaia’s strong determination to remain in control, his impending exit happens on his own terms. For Costa, that means ensuring that he eventually ends up at Atletico and certainly does not end up in China.
“...it's up to Chelsea to decide what they want to do with me, otherwise I look for the best possible team to play in. Atletico are one of those teams. If I sign for Atlético, it does not mean that I will not be able to play. I can still be loaned to another team whether it be Spain, Italy, Brazil ... or wherever ... the important thing is to play.”
“I feel very strongly about Atletico and I will continue to enjoy the club very much whether I go there or anywhere else. If I want to play the World Cup, I cannot go to China. Now it's up to Chelsea to decide if I should be looking for then a new team.”
“You can ask him (Antonio Conte) about what it is that has happened, but it's not good. The coach does not want to have problems with their most important players, but there is a certain way of doing things. All my teammates at Chelsea like me and are with me. We know what is good and what is bad, and I have a very good relationship with everyone in the team.”
-Diego Costa; source: Onda Cero via Svenskafans via Google Translate
These are mostly the same quotes as the ones reported yesterday, with the added suggestions of generic loan destinations in Spain, Italy, Brazil or wherever other than China and the added shot at the end of “all his teammates” being behind him. Framing this as a players vs. management issue is not helping anyone, Diego!
The Brazilian Serie A option sounds a bit far-fetched, though Palmeiras were briefly linked this weekend. In the Italian Serie A, AC Milan continue to be the hot ticket, though they had supposedly ruled out this possibility and also just signed Andre Silva from Porto. Still, Costa’s agent is playing coy, as agents tend to do.
“Diego Costa to Milan? What I talk to Milan about, I won’t tell the Press...”
-Jorge Mendes; source: Football Italia
So this six-month loan option seems to be the best way forward — here’s a corroborating report from the Telegraph’s Jason Burt — though at this point is not at all clear what team might be willing patsies in this arrangement, nor is it clear whether Chelsea would sell first or just sell in January.