Antonio Conte and Diego Costa could come face-to-face tonight (Getty)

Diego Costa will reportedly be roaming the players’ tunnel prior to tonight’s Champions League game between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

It will give the striker a chance to say goodbye to his former Blues team-mates having this week completed a return to Atletico.

But it could also mean a reunion with the man who forced him out of Stamford Bridge – Antonio Conte.

The Chelsea manager has said in the build-up to tonight’s game that he would be happy to shake the hand of his former player.

‘Yes, as I said before, I have no problem with Diego Costa,’ said the Italian.

‘I said that we wish, for him, the best for the future. We want to thank him for the last season. But, I repeat, I have no problem with him.’

Antonio Conte ahead of tonight’s match (Getty)

But despite Conte’s words, the meeting could be very awkward. Here’s why…

The text…

Conte is understood to have told Costa back in January that his time at Chelsea was coming to an end. But it seems the Spain international only got the message at the start of the summer – via text.

The actual text

‘Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the seasono [sic] we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan.’

As anyone who’s ever been dumped by text will confirm, this isn’t the way to do it.

Costa went AWOL…

So incensed was Costa at his treatment that he went AWOL, refusing to return to Chelsea training. It saw him fined huge amounts of money by the club but nothing could get him to leave his parents’ home in Brazil.

Costa never returned (Getty)

‘Criminal’…

Costa accused Chelsea of treating him like ‘a criminal’ during his exodus in Brazil.

Conte laughing at Costa…

When asked about Costa’s comments about being treated like a criminal, Conte found it hysterical. The Chelsea manager essentially laughed at Costa.

Up Next

‘Lacks charisma’…

In the same Daily Mail interview in which Costa claimed to be treated like a criminal, he took aim at Conte.

‘I respect him 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.’

Ouch.

Cryptic goodbye…

Following confirmation of his exit from Chelsea, Costa posted a farewell message on Instagram. It was somewhat cryptic, but the lack of a thank you for his manager is glaring.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZhNpvVnAjG/

Atletico Madrid v Chelsea kicks off at 7.45pm tonight. Keep a close eye on the tunnel.

MORE : Chelsea star Eden Hazard reveals advice from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry

MORE : Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Man City – how do their Champions League recovery times compare?