Diego Costa has been called up by Vicente Del Bosque for Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifying clashes against Slovakia and Luxembourg, despite Jose Mourinho expressing a wish for the Chelsea striker to be handled with care.
The 25-year-old has been struggling with a persistent hamstring problem of late, with Mourinho claiming that Costa has been capable of doing "almost nothing" in training in recent weeks and indicating that he would prefer for the former Atletico Madrid star not to be called up for Spain.
Yet the Chelsea manager played Costa for the full 90 minutes of the Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, the first time the striker had played the entire game for a month.
And Del Bosque has responded by calling Costa into his 23-man squad for the two qualifiers on October 9 and 12.
"If we are bringing Diego Costa it is ok because he is playing every game," Del Bosque said of the striker’s inclusion.
The player himself confirmed after the win over Sporting that he was feeling well and ready to play for his country if called upon.
"I played 90 minutes – it’s clear that I’m ok. I feel better every time and it is up to the manager. I work intensively during the week with the physios because I have had some discomfort for a while."
Full Spain squad: Casillas, De Gea, Casilla, Carvajal, Juanfran, Pique, Albiol, Ramos, Azpilicueta, Alba, Iturraspe, Busquets, Koke, Iniesta, Cazorla, Fabregas, Rodrigo, Pedro, Raul Garcia, Bernat, Diego Costa, Alcacer, David Silva.
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