Overview
- Diego Costa criticised Antonio Conte’s character on The Obi One podcast, calling him a bitter man and making a crude personal jibe.
- Asked about the remarks, Conte said he would not waste energy on such comments and added that in football there are intelligent and stupid people.
- Conte asserted that during their 2016–17 Premier League-winning season Costa tried to leave Chelsea on three separate occasions.
- The public exchange resurfaced in the build-up to Napoli’s Champions League meeting with Chelsea, with Conte speaking to media ahead of the tie.
- Conte’s response comes as Napoli deal with poor recent results and injuries, including a 3–0 defeat to Juventus days earlier.