World Cup

Diego Costa: 'Luiz Felipe Scolari never called'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 07 June 2014

Atletico Madrid and Spain forward Diego Costa says that Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari never spoke to him about representing the Selecao at the World Cup this summer.

Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has insisted that Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari never spoke to him about representing the Selecao at the World Cup this summer.

The 25-year-old twice represented Brazil – the country of his birth – in friendlies last year, but switched his allegiance to Spain after gaining citizenship towards the end of 2013.

Scolari claimed last week that he had spoken to the forward about representing the host nation, but Costa, who is reportedly close to joining Chelsea, has quelled such claims.

"Scolari has never called me on the phone. The only manager that I've spoken to is [Vicente] del Bosque, who cared about me, he invited me to lunch and let me know that he wanted me. I'm very happy because here they've received me as a brother," he told AS.

"I am and I feel Brazilian and that'll never change. I am from Sergipe, in the heart of the country. In my home in Madrid, I maintain the Brazilian customs and that'll never change either. I want to win the World Cup with Spain, but if we can, my second dream is that Brazil wins it."

Costa scored 36 times for Atletico last season.