Kevin Gameiro: 'I turned down Barcelona'

General view of Vicente Calderon Stadium pitch and grandstands prior to start of the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Betis Balompie on October 27, 2013
© Getty Images
French forward Kevin Gameiro claims that he turned down Barcelona to join Atletico Madrid from Sevilla in the summer transfer window.

Kevin Gameiro has claimed that he turned down interest from Barcelona to join Atletico Madrid from Sevilla in the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman was strongly linked with a move to Camp Nou throughout the summer, but it was Atletico that convinced the 29-year-old to leave Sevilla, where he had scored 68 goals over the course of three seasons.

Gameiro, who has netted twice in seven appearances for his new club this season, has said that "there was the possibility of going to Barcelona", but Atletico were always his first choice.

"There was the possibility of going to Barcelona," Gameiro told Cadena COPE. "But in my head it was clear I wanted to go to Atletico. When Atletico contacted me, it was clear."

Barcelona instead signed Spanish international Paco Alcacer from Valencia as back-up to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the final third of the field.

Managers Luis Enrique and Abelardo before the La Liga match between Sporting Gijon and Barcelona on February 17, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico74301421215
2Real Madrid7430167915
3Sevilla74211310314
4Barcelona741222101213
5Villarreal734094513
6Athletic Bilbao7403108212
7Las PalmasLas Palmas73221613311
8EibarEibar732297211
9Real Sociedad731399010
10Celta Vigo7313911-210
11Leganes7313710-310
12AlavesAlaves72328719
13Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo722356-18
14Malaga722379-28
15Real Betis7223812-48
16Sporting GijonSporting Gijon7214616-107
17Espanyol7133914-56
18Valencia7205914-56
19Osasuna7034715-83
20Granada7025716-92