Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari claims he would have taken Diego Costa to the World Cup this summer had the Atlético Madrid striker not switched his allegiance to Spain.
"I was going to call him up for the World Cup," Scolari told Brazil newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.
"Was I wrong? I don't know. He would be at the World Cup with Brazil. I spoke to him twice about it.
"The problem is that there are other interests behind everything. With Diego Costa taking Spanish nationality, space opens up for him in Europe.
"There's a whole set of interests. Diego Costa would be with us. He can play as a number 7 and 9, and even an 11. I'd planned to put him up front to run and tussle. He's as strong as a bull."
Costa has made one appearance for Spain, playing 90 minutes in their 1-0 win over Italy in March.
"I was going to call him up for the World Cup," Scolari told Brazil newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.
"Was I wrong? I don't know. He would be at the World Cup with Brazil. I spoke to him twice about it.
"The problem is that there are other interests behind everything. With Diego Costa taking Spanish nationality, space opens up for him in Europe.
"There's a whole set of interests. Diego Costa would be with us. He can play as a number 7 and 9, and even an 11. I'd planned to put him up front to run and tussle. He's as strong as a bull."
Costa has made one appearance for Spain, playing 90 minutes in their 1-0 win over Italy in March.
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