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Chelsea boss Mourinho dead against capping foreign players

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is dead against capping players who were not born in the nation they want to represent.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, who has been granted a Spanish passport, was called up into Spain's squad to face Italy on Friday, despite the fact he is Brazilian-born and has even played for the World Cup hosts in two friendlies.

Mourinho said: "When, one day I'm a national coach, I will take only players born in my country. That's for sure.

"Or if not born in my country, then with parents with a big connection with the country.

"I will never take a player just because he has a passport from my country thinking he can make my team stronger. For me, the national team means a lot. My national team means a lot. If, one day, I coach Portugal, I'll go with the Portuguese.

"I won't do it. The national team is Portugal. It's not Portugal & Friends. Portugal is for the Portuguese."

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