Last update 9 September, 2013 by Julio Muñoz
If Diego Costa was called by De Forest for “La Roja”, not be the first striker born in the country of Spain donning elastic. There have been other Brazilian players who have played with the "Red" as Donato, although the case is Marcos Senna latest, He nationalized the only player who has lifted a title with Spain. Not all records are so good. To do an exercise of memory to recall a front, but they not so long ago played Catanha, Pizzi and Alvaro Cervera.
Catanha
Catanha is the case most resembles that of Diego Costa, both share nationality Spanish-Brazilian. It was a very important player in the league, a born striker who is still kicking the ball modest Sport Clube Santo Antônio Brazil. We went in Malaga where we discover the real "Killer" which was Catanha, con 49 goals in 73 parties. The player Celta and Málaga, among others, he wore the "Red" in 3 occasions, but he not managed to score a single goal.
Juan Antonio Pizzi
Juan Antonio Pizzi has been one of the front nationalized recent history of the Spanish team. The current coach of San Lorenzo de Almagro participated with Spain in 22 occasions, marking a total of 8 goals. Former Tenerife player, Valencia, FC Barcelona and Villarreal was one of the best strikers in the late 90's. He has to his credit with 508 official matches, with a whopping 221 goals.
Alvaro Cervera
Alvaro Cervera played in Racing, Valencia and Mallorca. This player born in Equatorial Guinea disputed 4 games selection. He debuted in the already demolished Carlos Tartiere of Oviedo in a match in which Spain won by 2-1 a Uruguay. He is currently the coach of the Tenerife which has climbed to 2nd division last season.
Pier Luigi Cherubino, Thomas Christiansen and Lopez Ufarte
By last, Pier Luigi Cherubino, Player Sporting Gijon and Betis he played 1 single party, Christiansen of which I already speak stuck with 2 shares and the mythical López Ufarte, Txuri-urdin player, of Moroccan origin, juice 15 matches and managed to score 5 goals, also he participated the World 82'.
What players nationalized comes from afar
There are other less recent cases, though no doubt, the best known is Alfredo Di Stefáno, who played 31 games scoring 23 goals. "La Saeta Rubia" has been one of the best players in the history of football. Puskas juice 4 games and saw no goal, Hungarian-born player was a star of Real Madrid. Another more successful step was Ladislao Kubala con 19 shares and a record of 11 goals.
Nationalization of players is very common in countries like France, Belgium, Netherlands Inglaterra, least in Spain, although currently involved with Spain nationalized talents in different sports. Sounded is the basketball player NBA, Serge Ibaka or new signing summery Bayern Guardiola, Thiago Alcantara.
Ratio of 39 players not born in Spain who wore the “Roja”:
| Country of birth | Soccer player | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina (13) | Alfredo Di Stefano | 31 | 23 |
| Juan Antonio Pizzi | 22 | 8 | |
| José Eulogio Garate | 18 | 5 | |
| Ruben Cano | 12 | 4 | |
| Mariano Pernia | 11 | 1 | |
| Oscar Valdez | 9 | 5 | |
| Manuel Anzá Errazquin | 6 | ? | |
| Hector Rial | 5 | 1 | |
| Juan Roberto Martinez | 5 | 2 | |
| Juan Carlos Heredia | 3 | – | |
| Eduardo Arbide | 1 | – | |
| Emilio Sagi Barba | 1 | – | |
| Juan Carlos Tourino | 1 | – | |
 Brazil (4) | Marcos Senna | 28 | 1 |
| Donato Gama da Silva | 12 | 3 | |
| Catanha | 3 | – | |
| Heraldo Bezerra | 1 | – | |
 Morocco (3) | Roberto Lopez Ufarte | 15 | 5 |
| José Luis López Peinado | 4 | – | |
| Jose Antonio Ramos | 4 | ? | |
 Paraguay (3) | Eulogio Martínez | 8 | 6 |
| Heriberto Herrera | 1 | – | |
| Vicente Jara | 1 | ? | |
 Cuba (2) | Chus Alonso | 3 | – |
| Francisco Martín Arencibia | 1 | – | |
 Philippines (2) | Paulino Alcantara | 5 | 6 |
| Marcellin Galatas | 1 | – | |
 Hungary (2) | Ladislao Kubala | 19 | 11 |
| Ferenc Puskás | 4 | – | |
 Italia (2) | Thiago Alcantara | 4 | – |
| Pier Luigi Cherubino | 1 | – | |
 Uruguay (1) | Jose Santamaria | 16 | – |
 Germany (1) | Curro Torres | 5 | – |
 Swiss (1) | Luis Cembranos | 1 | – |
 Denmark (1) | Thomas Christiansen | 2 | 1 |
 Equatorial Guinea (1) | Alvaro Cervera | 4 | – |
 Mauritania (1) | Gerardo Miranda | 9 | – |
 France (1) | Armando Alvarez | 2 | – |
 UK (1) | Ramon Zabalo |