Antonio Conte may have won league titles in Italy and England, but the Inter Milan manager would not last even a campaign in charge of Real Madrid, according to Diego Costa.
The Italian is regarded as one of Europe’s top managers after spells in charge of Juventus and Chelsea.
Conte won three consecutive Serie A titles with the Bianconeri and spent two years in the Premier League, where he guided Chelsea to win the League and FA Cup.
During his spell at Chelsea, Antonio Conte had issues with Diego Costa and told the striker via text message that he was not wanted anymore at the club.
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The Spain international eventually left the blues to return to Atletico Madrid and has been a vocal critic of the manager since then.
“[Conte and I] had problems off the pitch, but I think he is a really good manager,” Costa said to ESPN.
“I have no hard feelings towards Conte, but to be a top, top manager, he needs to change the human side of his management. He is very suspicious. At a team like, say, Real Madrid, he would never last a season.”
Although he was born in Brazil, Costa played just two matches for the national team before switching his allegiance to the Spain national side.
The former Chelsea forward faced criticism for his decision, but he says former Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made it an easy one.
“After the friendly against Russia, he said he would call me up again because I hadn’t played many minutes,” he added. “I think it was just to get in my head.
“I remember several forwards were injured but Scolari would not select me. I stayed quiet, but wasn’t selected for the Confederations Cup.
“The possibility of Spain emerged and I accepted. How could I say no? “Suddenly, they started saying Scolari wanted me. Well, he never called me once. How could it be that he wanted me?
“I then saw it written that I had ruined the dreams of millions of Brazilians. Why not say that he didn’t look for me? Then it’s simple.”