Why Diego Costa should be allowed to play for Spain

Diego Costa

Everybody loves an underdog. The rags-to-riches story is perhaps one that will never lose its appeal, simply because it is one that flicks on a switch in every one of us; one that implores us to reach out and seize the day, and fulfill those long-cherished dreams that we have held on to for so long.

But what we, in our protected bubble of self-satisfaction and comfort, can never truly understand is that primal quality that is a hallmark of every man who has made it on his own – hunger.

It is that hunger that has seen Diego da Silva Costa rise up and be counted among the premier strikers in the footballing world today.

He stands today at yet another crossroads in his checkered life, the man at the center of a storm that is as much a product of his rare talent finally shining through, as it is a consequence of the identities that bind us all; that of one’s nationality.

The Atletico Madrid man has been in terrific form of late, racking up ten goals from his eight league appearances thus far. But the picture hasn’t always been this rosy for Costa.

And that is why his preference to play for his adopted country Spain over his native Brazil should be one that is respected and understood for what it is – a man’s continued search for identity.

His footballing journey is one that may possibly be unique, at least among those who are fortunate enough to play at the highest level. Until his late teens, Costa had no intention of taking up football as a profession – in itself very surprising because among the current crop of elite players, there is probably not one who would say that he was not “born to play football”.

In his own words, Costa preferred to “work, earn money, and take a girl out for a meal”. A deceptively simple ambition for one so young, but not one that would stand up to the tough life he had.

Rumors abound that his inability to afford a date with a love interest at the time was one that Costa took very personally, and is likely to have driven a hurt young man into football’s waiting arms.

That kid’s loss has turned out to be football’s gain, because what Costa not-so-discreetly does is strip apart this many-layered game to its humble origin – the street.

Now, for those of you unfamiliar with his playing style, the words “Brazilian” and “street” may have already conjured up images of jaw-dropping skill and trickery.

But Costa, like Ramires and Fred before him, is part of an ilk that is showing the world that not all Brazilians who play in attacking positions can be dumped into the same category, no matter how desirable that category may be.

Costa is a fighter; an all-action presence whose directness and drive while charging at the defense is a refreshing change from the coy, subtle games that are being played out everywhere today. It is that quality of being “raw” and explosive that has seen a belligerent Costa become a feared presence on the La Liga scene today.

He is a throwback to a simpler time when a man’s instinct and hunger were of far more importance than the endless monotony that prevails in the attitudes of most academy players these days. And in daring to succeed while holding on the qualities that he has needed to survive a rough upbringing, the man has finally found acceptance on a grand stage that celebrates his unique talents today.

What we have seen is the taming of the bull; with manager Diego Simeone assuming the role of the matador. And the bull himself enthralls a delighted Atleti support today in his role as their most potent attacking weapon.

Diego Costa

He joins a list of illustrious Atleti forwards, a list that has the names of (take a deep breath) Hugo Sanchez, Christian Vieri, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink , Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and Radamel Falcao.

And I suppose David Villa deserves a mention, if only for the fact that any discussion about the modern day striker would be incomplete without his name being thrown in the mix.

But unlike these names that chose greener pastures when the hour of reckoning revealed itself, Diego Costa, it seems, is here to stay. He turned down a lucrative move to Liverpool in the summer, with Brendan Rodgers convinced that the only way to potentially replace Luis Suarez (lets face it, he will leave, eventually) was to bring in another street-fighter.

The arrival of Iago Aspas doesn’t seem like quite a mystery now, does it?

But Rodgers is sadly mistaken if he thinks he can buy out Costa. The man has finally found a home in Spain, and his long search for identity has brought him a place in El Atleti hearts. On a footballing front, the derby day win against Real Madrid should take care of any qualms over a lack of ambition from Simeone’s side.

And now, at a time when things could not possibly be better for him, Costa finds himself knee-deep in a needless controversy. That he prefers to play for Spain, and not Brazil, should be treated as a personal decision, born out of a feeling of acceptance and fondness for the country that has given him a life he can be proud of.

In fact, he has a more realistic chance of securing a starting spot for Brazil than he does for Spain. In the form that he is in, Costa can edge out Fred or Damiao comfortably; whereas for the La Roja, even with their continued striking troubles, he will have to see off a rejuvenated Soldado, Negredo, Torres, and, on occasion, even Fabregas.

Our nationalities may be a prominent indicator of our identities, but what of those who identify themselves with another culture? A culture and a land that has revealed itself to be all that it had promised for Diego Costa, to the point where he wants to show his gratitude by being a part of the country’s biggest passion – the national football team.

Do we have the right to question a man’s heart and desire? Even as we can see so plainly that his desire falls within the laws prescribed by those that preside over this game? If anything, Costa’s decision should be celebrated as a testament to Spain, and to football’s unrivaled ability to unite.

Fans of Canadian comedian Russell Peters will know that his mass appeal lies in not just his riotously funny acts, but in the undercurrent that is present all through his time on the stage – the message that these barriers of race, color and language only serve to divide in today’s atmosphere of mistrust and apprehension.

Believe me, I am not against being proud of one’s heritage and identity; in fact, being raised as your typical army brat has only given me a clearer idea of what it means to be patriotic. And it does not lie here, in this treatment meted out to a genuinely talented footballer, as if he were a passport for hire. His story deserves better.