Brazil vow to keep Costa

Brazil’s Football Confederation (CBF) has vowed to exhaust all avenues to ensure Brazil-born striker Diego Costa does not switch allegiance to Spain.

CBF president Jose Maria Marin confirmed on Saturday he had spoken to his Spanish federation (RFEF) counterpart Angel Maria Villar and warned that Brazil considered the 25-year-old their player.

“I had a friendly conversation with president Villar and made it clear that Felipe (Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari) wants to select him (Costa) and that we think Spain’s intention to call him up is illegal,” Marin said. “I also said that we are prepared to take every action possible to fight for the right of the CBF. He (Villar) responded by saying the decision lies with the player.”