The coach of Brazil’s under-20 side has flown in to Portugal in an attempt to halt a situation with young players that could well end up becoming a precedent. Diego Costa’s decision to represent Spain and not the country of his birth has prompted CBF members to travel to meet up personally with young starlets and try to convince them not to jump ship.
Alexandre Gallo has therefore flown to meet up with Rio Ave 19 year-old Diego Lopes in a bid to fend off interset from other federations, notably Portugal, and told SporTV: “We have some great athletes playing for the teams of Europe.”
“We have to ensure that Diego wants to play for the national team. When we put the shirt in fromt of the player, we believe that he will opt for selection, simply by being the world’s best team.”
