Why Diego Costa should be allowed to play for Spain

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.