Diego Costa's typically outspoken comments in an interview with the Daily Mail come at the worst possible time for Chelsea, with Antonio Conte battling to get the Blues' Premier League title defence back on track after a shock opening-day 3-2 defeat against Burnley.
Having claimed in June that Conte texted him to tell him he was no longer part of Chelsea's plans for the new season, Costa has not returned the club and has been on holiday in Brazil.
The combustible striker has never been afraid to speak his mind, particularly when he feels he has been wronged, and he clearly sees himself as the victim in an acrimonious dispute that has overshadowed Chelsea's already-troubled preparations for the new season.
ESPN FC assessed Costa's claims individually:
"I am waiting for Chelsea to set me free. I didn't want to leave. I was happy. When the manager does not want you, you have to go."
Costa largely enjoyed himself at Cobham, where he was a popular figure among teammates and staff, and scored plenty of goals on the pitch. But he never concealed his disdain for life in England -- the weather, language, culture -- or his desire to return to Atletico Madrid.
In fact, he has carried the air of a man with one foot out of the door virtually ever since he arrived at Chelsea, so the notion that all was rosy in his world before this summer will prompt more than a few rolled eyes at Stamford Bridge.
"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."
The Spain international has just two years left to run on the contract he signed in June 2014, meaning the Blues would have faced a big decision over his future this summer regardless of any breakdown with Conte.
It's possible that Costa might have been willing to commit despite his restlessness, but the issues in January, when he was dropped before the game with Leicester, clearly played a part.
As for the suggestion that Conte killed the contract talks, even Costa admits he is speculating. The Italian manager would have been perfectly justified in concluding that he wanted a different striker, but after the events of that month Chelsea also had good cause to be nervous about sinking long-term resources into such a volatile character.
"I respect [Conte] as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn't possess charisma."
Costa's personal dislike of his head coach is unsurprising, but no one who saw the love and dedication Conte inspired in his Juventus and Italy players, or watched him revive a devastated Chelsea squad last season, could credibly argue that the 48-year-old is distant or lacking in charisma.
"I never had any problems with Jose [Mourinho], we have a strong relationship. Everyone was very sad when things didn't work out in the end for him at Chelsea."
This reads like a convenient re-writing of history to damn Conte by comparison. Costa and Mourinho frequently brought the worst out of each other in the latter's torrid final weeks at Stamford Bridge, from public jibes about making the wrong runs to that infamous bib-throwing incident at White Hart Lane.
It was also telling that while Nemanja Matic, Willian and others were greeted warmly by their former manager, Mourinho and Costa didn't even acknowledge each other during Manchester United's clashes with Chelsea last season.
"I have not deleted the message. If people accuse me of lying, I can show them. It was clear, saying that he didn't count on me and wishing me the best for the future. Full stop."
There is no suggestion that Costa lied about the text message Conte sent him in June. Chelsea have never disputed his version of events publicly or privately, though they insist the striker knew his days at Stamford Bridge were numbered from January onwards.
"No, no, no. There was no conversation or talks [after the FA Cup final]."
There was no reason for Conte to discuss Costa's future with him immediately after Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal. The whole summer lay ahead. In any case, the club are adamant that the 28-year-old already knew he was leaving.
"The worst bit of all this, it is for the fans. They have always treated me so well -- always, always. For this, I am sad. I hope they understand things happen in football."
Costa is right. One angry post-Mourinho outburst aside, the vast majority of Chelsea fans have always adored him and forgiven his flaws, despite his repeated attempts to leave. Publicly attacking Conte, an even more popular figure, is not a smart way to secure his Stamford Bridge legacy.
"I have rejected other offers. They want to sell me to China or other teams. The language is better for me in Spain. If I'm off, I'm going to the club I want to go to -- not the club that's paying the most."
Chelsea's plan was to sell Costa to Tianjin Quanjian this summer, only for a government crackdown on Chinese Super League spending to end that possibility. Costa has been consistent in his desire to return to Atletico and, given he could earn far more elsewhere, it's clear that money isn't his primary motivation.
"They want me to be there training with the reserves. I wouldn't be allowed access to the first-team dressing room and I would have no contact at all with the guys."
Chelsea would like Costa at Cobham in order to monitor his physical condition, but it's easy to see why Conte doesn't want any potentially disruptive presence near his first-team squad at the moment.
"They gave me an week extra off but since then it's fines all the way."
Last month, confirming that Costa had been excused from the start of preseason, Chelsea stated that, "it was agreed with the club that he should have an extra few days off." Weeks later the striker remains in Lagarto, though the club declined to comment on disciplinary action when contacted by ESPN FC.
"If I have to I will stay in Brazil. I am open to being a year in Brazil without playing, even if Chelsea fine me for a year and don't pay me."
Given that Atletico cannot register new players until January at the earliest -- due to their FIFA-imposed transfer ban -- Costa's threat to remain in exile is not an idle one. But it isn't in Chelsea's interest to allow this saga to drag on beyond August. Expect a deal to get done.
"I want the deal with Atletico resolved this month. My idea would be to go to Madrid, train there, get in the best physical shape and be ready to fire ahead of the World Cup."
Costa holds much of the leverage in this dispute, but he also has a powerful incentive to find a solution quickly.