Diego Costa insists he will look for an exit route out of Chelsea after being told by manager Antonio Conte he is not in the Italian’s plans for next season. Costa was an integral part of Chelsea’s Premier League winning campaign this season, scoring 22 goals.
However, he claims he has no option but to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming months after being told by Conte he has no future with the English champions. “I am going to be honest, the other day I got a message from the coach, Conte, that I am not part of his plans,” Costa told reporters after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia on Wednesday.
“Right now I am a Chelsea player because I have a contract, but if the coach doesn’t want me there then I have to leave.” Costa said last month that he would only contemplate a move back to Atletico Madrid, from whom he joined Chelsea in 2014.
However, with the Spanish side banned by FIFA from registering new players until January, any move to Atletico before the end of August would mean Costa would have to wait until the new year to play. “I don’t know,” said the striker when asked about a return to Atletico. To not play for four or five months is difficult. People know that I love my teammates at Atletico, I love to live in Madrid, but I need to think about my future.”
Costa does, though, believe Conte’s stance will allow him to leave on the cheap. “Now it is much easier. If the coach doesn’t want you in his team, Chelsea have to sell me, and in the sales.”

Ronaldo stays atop Forbes list of richest athletes
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo remained atop Forbes magazine’s list of 100 highest-paid athletes, with Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James moving up to second on a list heavy on NBA players. The 32-year-old Portugal forward is estimated to have earned a total of $93mn between his football salary of $58mn and $35mn in endorsement income.
It’s the second straight year Ronaldo has topped the list, released Wednesday just days after he spearheaded a 4-1 victory over Juventus that made Real Madrid the first team to retain the UEFA Champions League title.
James, with estimated earnings of $86.2mn, was one of 32 NBA players who made the top 100 — up from 18 last year. He took over second place from the Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, now third with $80mn. Swiss tennis great Roger Federer ($64mn) and Golden State Warriors guard Kevin Durant ($60.6mn) rounded out the top five — just as they did last year. The Forbes figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses earned between June 1, 2016, and June 1, 2017. Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12-month period based on conversations with industry insiders. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, was the lone woman on the list with an estimated income of $27mn — $19mn of which came from endorsements — to place her 51st overall.

Solanke blasts England into U20 World Cup final
Dominic Solanke struck twice as England beat Italy 3-1 to reach the Under-20 World Cup final for the first time in their history yesterday. Liverpool-bound Solanke cancelled out Riccardo Orsolini’s early opener when he scored in the 66th minute, before Everton’s Ademola Lookman put England 2-1 up 11 minutes later.
With two minutes left, Solanke buried a glorious strike from distance to confirm England’s place in Sunday’s final against Venezuela, who edged Uruguay on penalties. Neither side has reached the final before and for England, it will be first time they have played a World Cup decider since their 1966 victory in the senior edition.

Sevilla hire Berizzo to replace Sampaoli
Eduardo Berizzo will take charge of Sevilla next season after the Spanish club announced yesterday a two-year deal had been agreed with the Argentine. The former Celta Vigo boss replaces his compatriot Jorge Sampaoli after the latter left to take charge of Argentina’s faltering World Cup qualifying campaign after just one season in charge at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Berizzo enjoyed three largely successful campaigns at Celta, leading the Galicians to the Europa League semi-finals this season where they narrowly lost to Manchester United.

Shakespeare pens permanent Leicester deal
Craig Shakespeare has signed a three-year contract as manager of Leicester City, the former Premier League champions announced yesterday. Shakespeare, 53, was promoted from his role as assistant coach on an interim basis following the shock dismissal of Claudio Ranieri in February.
His appointment sparked a striking upturn in form that saw Leicester secure their Premier League status and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.