Scolari: I would have picked Diego Costa in my Brazil squad for the World Cup

Diego Costa made his debut for Spain earlier this year against Italy

Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted that he would have selected Diego Costa in his World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament.

Costa was able to represent Brazil, but the former Atletico Madrid man decided he wanted to play for the Spanish national side and made his debut in March, playing the full ninety-minutes to defeat Italy 1-0.

Costa, set to join Chelsea this summer, was slammed by Scolari at the time for picking the Spain team over Brazil and the former Chelsea manager insists he would have selected Costa in his 23-man party.

Scolari told reporters: “I was going to summon him for the World Cup.

“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 (at Atletico) 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.”