Brazilian born striker Costa confirms desire to play for Spain

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Brazilian born striker Costa confirms desire to play for Spain

(Xinhua) 09:21, October 30, 2013

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Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa looks destined to play international football for Spain rather than his native Brazil after signing a document insisting he wants to represent the country he lives in rather than the land of his birth.

The fact that Costa has spent over 5 years playing in Spain and has not represented Brazil in anything other than a friendly game at all official levels of competition means he is able to take advantage of his dual nationality and play for the reigning World Champions.

The debate over whether or not the striker will play for Spain or Brazil has intensified in recent months given his exceptional start to the current season which has seen him score 11 goals in the BBVA Primera Liga to become top scorer in the competition.

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari had indicated he would call Costa into his next squad, but Costa appears to have circumnavigated that threat by signing a document in front of a lawyer that he wanted to represent Spain.

This was confirmed by a communique published by the Spanish Football Federation, (RFEF), which reads: "On this morning, Tuesday, October, 29, the Hispano - Brazilian footballer, Diego da Silva Costa visited the lawyer Serrano 30, where he signed a paper in which he manifested his intention to play with the Spanish national football team."

"The striker communicates in this paper which is directed to D. Julio Cesar Avelleda, the General Secretary of the Brazilian Football Confederation, his desire to be at the disposition of the Spanish National Team coach, Vicente del Bosque from this moment."

"In this way, Diego Costa can play for Spain in the next games in the month of November, as long as the national coach deems it opportune," reads the communique.

The fact Costa has signed this paper merely confirms what he indicated a week ago after Atletico Madrid won their Champions League clash away to Austria Vienna that he had "already taken his decision," which country he wanted to represent.

Spain's next two matches are both friendly matches, with one confirmed away to South Africa in Johannesburg on November 19 and a probable clash against Angola on November 15.

（Editor：GaoYinan、Chen Lidan）