Brazil Coach Felipe Scolari has revealed he intended to call Diego Costa to the squad for the World Cup before he switched allegiance to Spain.
Costa made two friendly appearances for the South Americans before deciding to represent La Roja, making his debut against Italy, the same opposition in his first game for Brazil.
“I was going to summon him for the World Cup,” AS reports Scolari as telling a local newspaper in Brazil.
“Was I wrong? I don’t know. He would be at the World Cup with Brazil. I talked to him twice about it.
“The problem is there are other interests behind it. With Diego Costa becoming a naturalised Spaniard another space [in Atletico’s squad] opened up in Europe.
“There’s a whole set of interests. Diego Costa would be with us. He plays as a seven, a nine, or even as an 11. People to try to run him over and go crashing. He’s strong as a bull.”
Scolari also offered his thoughts on Group B, which sees Spain take on Chile, the Netherlands and Australia.
“Don’t forget Chile is a tough team. I wouldn’t want to face Chile, even though the statistics show that Brazil always beat Chile,” he added.
Ironically, Costa’s involvement in the World Cup with Spain is now threatened after it was confirmed he needs two weeks’ rest on his hamstring injury, with Spain’s first game 18 days away.
