Chelsea treating me like a criminal: Diego Costa

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London, August 14: Diego Costa criticised Chelsea's treatment of him and said he is "not a criminal" as he holds out for a move to Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old is still at the club despite claiming he was told he was not wanted by manager Antonio Conte via text message, reported the talksports.com.

Costa has still not returned to Stamford Bridge from his post-season break, with the striker saying he does not want to train with the Blues' reserves and is happy staying in Brazil and paying club fines until his future is resolved.

The Spain international insists he was happy at Stamford Bridge until Conte made it clear he had no future in the Italian's team, and now wants to re-join the club he left to join Chelsea in 2014.

"I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free," he told the Daily Mail. "I didn't want to leave, I was happy, [but] when the manager does not want you, you have to go.

"In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it.

"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."

Costa, who said he feels Conte "doesn't possess charisma", was angry with how he was told to leave.

"There are ways of going about it. You don't do it by text message. You should be honest and direct to someone's face."

"My desire is to go to Atletico. I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to, not the club that's paying the most."