Atletico Madrid defender Joao Miranda thinks Brazil will lose a great player if teammate Diego Costa is allowed to represent Spain.
Miranda, signed from Sao Paulo in January 2011, has played for Brazil on seven occasions and considers his country would be making a mistake if Costa is snapped up by Spain before next year’s World Cup.
“Diego Costa is a quality player. What I know, from speaking to him, is that he has not been given a chance with Brazil and as far as playing for Spain goes he is thinking about it a lot.
“He wants to play in a World Cup and it is a dream of his that is on the verge of coming true, but the Brazilian national team will lose a great player, one who is young and has great potential,” said Miranda in an interview with Estadao.
The 29-year-old was asked if he would also choose to be nationalised if he had not played in official competition for the country of his birth.
“It’s difficult and I think each player has his own way of thinking about it and acting upon it.
“However, you have to respect Diego’s decision because, even though he is young, he has experience and is known throughout Europe.
“Will I play for Brazil again? I would like to because of the football I’ve been playing, but my idea is to continue to do well for my club.
“I’m happy with the recognition I receive from the local Press and the supporters for the part I’m playing.
“If the chance to play for the national team comes up again I’d be happy and I’d try to do my best, but in any case I’ll still be cheering for them.”
Atletico are currently joint-leaders of La Liga with Barcelona, both teams having won their opening eight fixtures, and Miranda feels Los Rojiblancos have a good opportunity of breaking the Barca-Real Madrid duopoly that has existed in recent years.
“To be playing as equals with those two is a sign our team is having a great campaign. We’ve already faced Real Madrid and beaten them.
“If we’ve beaten Madrid then we can also cause a surprise and beat Barcelona. We want to have a great season in both La Liga and the Champions League and maintain the pace throughout,” explained Miranda, who went on to speak about Atleti’s defensive capabilities.
“Competition in defence is good and we have players of great quality, such as Diego Godin and Toby Alderweireld, but it’s normal I’ve played together more with Godin as we had the best defence in La Liga last season and this year we are also the best.
“It’s difficult for a player who has just arrived to be on equal terms in fighting for a position. But, as I said, they are two quality players and either would be in the starting line-up for any other team,” he asserted.
