Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has reportedly traveled to Serbia to visit a “medical miracle worker” as he battles to be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against RealMadrid on Saturday. Both AS and Marca are reporting that Costa, who was diagnosed with a Grade 1 muscle tear, has headed to the Balkan country to visit Marijana Kovacevic, who isunderstood to use electric shocks as well as an ointment made of horse placenta as part of her treatment. Kovacevic has reportedly worked with Premier League stars like Robin van Persie as wellas the Ghanaian national team.
Meanwhile, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told AS he is concerned about the Brazil-born striker, who only just became a Spanish citizen lastfall. Del Bosque plans to have Costa lead his attack at the World Cup this summer, but if he rushes the injury, he could miss the tournament altogether.
“Diego Costa has us on tenterhooks,”Del Bosque said. “His club say he has a muscular injury and that concerns us. Medicine has advanced a lot, but each injury has its minimum recovery time. We will see what happens in the end, but itseems there is time for him to recover before the World Cup begins.” Del Bosque warned Costa that he would be risking his place with La Roja if he plays in the UCL final. “It is normal that a playerwants to be there, because it is not just another game but the European Cup final,” he said. “But he cannot go against his own health. His team, Atletico, and the player himself are those who have toweigh up the situation and the consequences.”