Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted that Diego Costa's future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain, amid reports linking him with a move away from the west London club in the summer transfer window.
The Brazil-born Spain international was signed by Chelsea's former manager Jose Mourinho in 2014. In his debut season, the striker was in fine form and played a key role in helping his side win the Premier League title in the 2014/15 season.
However, Costa saw a dip in his form last term and there were reports that he was unhappy at the club. According to The Daily Mail, Atletico are interested in bringing him back to the Spanish capital club this summer and are ready to pay a fee of £40m.
Costa missed Chelsea's last two pre-season fixtures against Liverpool and Real Madrid due to a back injury. Conte claims the only way his striker can make his way into the starting lineup is by impressing in the training sessions.
"I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player. He didn't play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training he's in good shape, it can be possible to see him in the next game against Milan. But I can tell only this," Conte explained, as quoted by Chelsea's official website.
"Today Costa is Chelsea's player. Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don't know."
Meanwhile, Chelsea suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Real in the International Champions Cup. The Belgium international Eden Hazard scored two late goals, but the forward's strikes were not sufficient to help the English side, avoid defeat at the hands of the Champions League winners. Conte was impressed with Hazard's display, which was his first outing inn the pre-season.
"Eden Hazard played 30 minutes and he is recovering a good shape. I like him in this position, like a forward, and he can be a good solution for us," Chelsea manager said.
"Also playing as a winger. To play as a second forward he must improve his shape but he is working and he knows his shape can a lot in the same way as the other players."
