ATLETICO MADRID HAVE sent star striker Diego Costa to Serbia for special horse placenta treatment in a bid to get him ready for Saturday’s Champions League final, according to media reports.

Costa, who will also be a key player in Spain’s World Cup squad, is a major doubt for the Lisbon final against Real Madrid because of a right hamstring injury.

Manager Diego Simeone said he will give Costa every chance to be ready for the match. And Atletico sent him on a private plane to Belgrade for treatment by Marijana Kovacevic, AS newspaper and other media reported.

The Serbian doctor reportedly uses fluid from horse placenta to speed up the repair of damaged cells. He has already helped Dutch star Robin van Persie and England’s Frank Lampard in the past.

Kovacevic will be helping Ghana at the World Cup in Brazil.

The Brazilian-born Costa, 25, was injured in Atletico’s match against Barcelona last Saturday in which they secured the Spanish title.

- © AFP, 2014

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