Chelsea
boss Antonio Conte has rubbished reports that he failed to sign Ross Barkley
from Everton because he had his phone switched off.
Reports claimed Barkley had a medical at Chelsea on transfer deadline day -
something denied by the player - but then snubbed a move to Stamford Bridge
because he was unable to talk to Conte.
When asked at a press conference about the rumours the Italian said: "First
of all, I want to tell you that I don't like to speak about players of other
teams because it is a lack of respect.
"But what I read about this issue was ridiculous. Ridiculous. I stop. It's
ridiculous. With this adjective, I tell you my thoughts of this news."
Conte, who signed Davide Zappacosta from Torino for £23m and Danny
Drinkwater from Leicester for £35m, has declared himself happy with his
summer business despite missing out on Barkley.
He said: "I think the club tried to do its best in the transfer market.
Sometimes you are able to buy. Sometimes you are not able to buy, for many
reasons. But I think the club tried to do its best during the transfer
market."
Unhappy Diego Costa has been linked with a move to Fenerbahce, before the
close of the Turkish transfer window at midnight on Friday, but Conte says
he has nothing new to report about the wantaway striker.
He said: "No, no news about him. My focus is on English football and not
Turkish football."
The Italian has backed the Premier League's decision to shorten the transfer
window, saying: "I agree with this decision. I agree. I think it's a good
decision. I agree.
"I think that, if you have a programme and a plan, and this plan is very
clear, it's not important to wait until the end of the window to sell your
players.
"If you decide in the right time that these players are to stay in your
squad, remain in your squad, I don't see any problems about this."
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