"?Chelsea wing-back and goal-scoring hero Marcos Alonso has stated that talk surrounding Diego Costa's future at the club is misplaced and entirely wrong.
The Brazilian-born Spain international was missing from the Blues team which triumphed 3-0 over Leicester City in the Saturday afternoon kickoff, and has been the subject of incessant speculation that he is unsettled in West London and considering an awe-inducing move to the Chinese Super League.
But Alonso, a summer signing from Fiorentina, who ironically assumed Costa's goal-scoring exploits by netting a double against the Foxes, claimed that the reports are wide of the mark, and even 'made up.'
"You guys made up the story," he told BBC Sport, via "?Sports Mole.
"Diego wasn't feeling well because of his back. He's very happy and will have a great enough season at Chelsea."
The revelation is likely to appease Chelsea fans who had been left dumbstruck by the suggestion that their leading star may leave them and possibly derail their Premier League title charge, having recorded 14 wins out of a possible 15.
As is usually the case, Blues fans took to the Twitter-sphere to offer their reaction and optimism that Costa may yet stay and commit his future to the club:
Marcos Alonso has come out and told the media the speculation around Diego Costa has been exaggerated.
Thank you!! #CFC
Alonso: there's no story. Costa is injured.
Press: he is trained with that line. Let's ignore the players and focus on what the papers say
Chelsea take to calling out fake news on the Diego Costa situation https://t.co/4uWP4wDU6c
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Antonio Conte has said that Diego Costa has trained or played recently due to a back problem. I don't think we believe you Antonio... ?
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Asked Antonio Conte if Diego Costa will play for Chelsea again. Answer: "Why not?" #CFC
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QUOTE: Antonio Conte on Diego Costa's absence: "On Tuesday, Diego stopped training with a pain in his back." ? pic.twitter.com/URrOKBJxqT