Diego Costa accuses Antonio Conte of treating him like a 'criminal' and tells Chelsea to 'set me free'

The 28-year-old forward has spent the summer training alone in Brazil and wants to secure a return to Atletico Madrid

Diego Costa has refused to train with Chelsea's reserves and is being fined wages by the club as a result (Getty Images)

Diego Costa has accused Chelsea of treating him like a “criminal” and says he wants to be “set free” to make a return to Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old forward has spent the summer in his hometown in Brazil after manager Antonio Conte told him he was surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Costa has now revealed that the club has been fining him each week since he refused to return to Cobham to train with the reserves.

“They want me to be there training with the reserves,” Costa told the Daily Mail.

“I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys.

“I'm not a criminal! I don't think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.

“They gave me a week extra off but since then it's fines all the way. They want me training with the reserves. I am not going to do that. I am not a criminal and I am not in the wrong here. So, if they need to fine me, let them fine me.

“I take the hit every week but I'm not driven by money. The important thing is to be happy with how I live. I'm here with my parents and people who respect me.”

Costa has two years to run on his contract and while a move to Atletico – where he played for four seasons – is his ideal conclusion, he says he would happily stay in Brazil for a year and not play.

“Why won't they let me go if they don't want me? I have to do what I have to do. I have to think of myself. I've been a good boy here and tried to do the right thing.

“My desire is to go to Atletico. I've spoken to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. I said, ‘If the manager doesn't want me, I want to go to Atletico Madrid’.

Costa also accused Conte of halting his contract negotiations in January and revealed that he had turned down offers from China.

“I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn't want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go,” Costa added.

“I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. The language is better for me in Spain. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to — not the club that's paying the most.

“[Atleti manager] Diego Simeone wants me. It is very clear. I have always had a bond with him. The fans and people love me there. They respect me.”