Kevin Gameiro: 'I didn't consider joining Barcelona'

Kevin Gameiro celebrates scoring during the Europa League final between Liverpool and Sevilla on May 18, 2016
© Getty Images
Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro suggests that he never considered joining Barcelona due to the limited first-team opportunities at Camp Nou.

Kevin Gameiro has said that his playing time would have "diminished" had he made the decision to join Barcelona rather than Atletico Madrid.

Last month, Gameiro left Sevilla to make the switch to the Vicente Calderon, but the French international has acknowledged that he also had the option to sign for the La Liga giants.

The 29-year-old told L'Equipe: "It was overwhelmingly a footballing decision. I knew that if I went to Barcelona, I would be the fourth-choice attacker [behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar]. My playing time would have diminished, I think.

"In fact, it was more likely that I would have stayed at Sevilla rather than going to Barcelona."

Gameiro ended a three-year association with Sevilla to move to the Champions League runners-up.

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20Villarreal00000000