Zinedine Zidane has ruled out Real Madrid selling Alvaro Morata this summer after the striker was linked with both Chelsea and Arsenal.
Madrid decided to exercise their buy-back option for Morata after the forward impressed for Spain at Euro 2016, with the 23-year-old moving back from Juventus to the Spanish capital for £23million.
The Champions League holders have turned down offers of £50m and then £62m from Chelsea for Morata this month, and Standard Sport understands that Chelsea are now close to re-signing Romelu Lukaku from Everton for £60million.
As Conte stopped to sign autographs outside Chelsea’s training camp in Los Angeles yesterday before the International Champions Cup clash with Madrid, fans asked whether the Blues would make a move for Morata or Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.
Conte simply laughed off the questions, while Zidane has now confirmed that Morata - who played during the 3-2 victory over Chelsea - will remain in Madrid this season.
"Yes, Morata is a Real Madrid player," he told reporters. "We're delighted to have him back, back to his original home.
"He's going to remain a Real Madrid player."
Standard Sport revealed in April that Lukaku is prepared to return to Stamford Bridge just two years after being sold to Everton for £28m because he feels he has unfinished business there.
Lukaku started just one league game for the Blues after arriving from Anderlecht for £18m in 2011.
Conte, meanwhile, says Diego Costa's future in west London is uncertain, telling reporters: “I speak for today and today Costa is Chelsea’s player.
"Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don’t know.
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“I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player.
"He didn’t play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training he’s in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against AC Milan [on Wednesday]. But I can tell you only this."
