Atletico Madrid's Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa has made clear his desire to represent Spain, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Thursday.
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However, administrative issues mean that he cannot be included in coach Vicente Del Bosque's squad, due to be named on Friday, for the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia.
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A statement released by the RFEF said that Fifa needed "complementary requisites" before clearing the way for the 24-year-old to change international allegiance, "even though the player has verbally manifested his intention of playing with the Spanish National Team to the Spanish coach."
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Costa was born in Brazil but moved to Spain in 2007, signing for Atletico.