Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has been biding his time since NOVEMBER to dump Diego Costa.
Costa has revealed Conte has told him to find a new club - via text.
And Marca says the pair's relationship first soured in November – two months before that fall out at the start of the year.
Costa held a meeting with Ateltico Madrid boss Diego Simeone at a restaurant during late 2016.
They discussed his potential return but both knew it was not possible while the La Liga side's transfer ban was still in place.
Conte was not impressed when he found out about the deal.
While the striker stayed in January he now looks set to leave when the window opens on July 1.