The international eligibility battle for Diego Costa, the Atletico Madrid striker, has become a source of contention between Spain and Brazil. Despite Spain boasting top-class forwards, the Spanish national team is eager to include Costa in their squad.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque commented on the matter, stating, “Is Costa necessary? No, but we had to see him, make contact, and we couldn’t hide. But the decision is up to him. I felt that he really wanted to join the selection. If that wasn’t the case, we would have taken another path.”
Diego Costa has played in friendly matches for Brazil against Italy and Russia but has not featured in an official match for his country. As a result, he still has the option to play for another national team, and Spain is eager to secure his commitment.
The Brazilian federation, however, has expressed its intention to call up Diego Costa for Brazil’s upcoming friendly matches and potentially include him in their World Cup squad. They emphasized that Costa holds a Brazilian passport, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
If the two federations cannot reach an agreement and FIFA intervenes, it could result in a prolonged dispute, potentially preventing Costa from playing for either Spain or Brazil in the World Cup. As one of the top goal-scorers in La Liga, Diego Costa’s eligibility has become a hotly contested issue between the two countries.
