Conte laughs off Costa outburst ' He is the past'

After Costa hit out at Chelsea claiming they were pricing him out of a move to Atletico, Conte responded in humourous fashion.

'It is great, it's great. I prefer to laugh', Conte joked, when asked about Costa's interview. 'I can tell you that everyone who works in Chelsea knows very well what happened with him last season. It's funny, this interview'.

Costa refuses to return to London with the team after Conte told him he was not wanted at the club via text message, and the striker accused the London club of treating him like 'a criminal'.

The Italian manager closed the door to the striker's return, answering bluntly to whether he would allow the striker to return: 'I'm not interested to continue this issue. I repeat, for me, is the past'.

Chelsea's media team interrupted the press conference after Antonio Conte's remarks, explaining that the club's stance remains that Diego Costa should return. Something the manager is making very difficult.