Diego Costa was unpleasant at Chelsea, according to respected Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri.

The Spaniard has revealed manager Antonio Conte had told him via text this week that he was no longer needed at Stamford Bridge.

It now seems certain that Costa will find a new home this summer, and Palmeri believes it will make Conte's life a lot easier.

Palmeri said on Twitter: "Conte is not perfect. But if he got till offloading such a crucial Diego Costa, then it means that Costa really made his life complicated."

Costa has been linked with a move to AC Milan.

He has publicly declared Atletico Madrid as his preferred destination, but that is unlikely to eventuate with Atleti banned from signing players till January.