No hard decision to join Barcelona: Striker Alcacer

Spanish striker Paco Alcacer has said it was an easy decision for him to move from Valencia to Barcelona as he was joining the biggest football club in the world.

Alcacer left Valencia to join Barcelona in one of the summer's big moves in Spain for a transfer fee of around 30 million euros ($33.4 million).

His decision to leave his hometown club where he had spent his entire career has upset Valencia fans, but Alcacer on Thursday explained that when the offer to join Barcelona came, it was a relatively easy decision to make, reports Xinhua.

"It is very hard to play at a club like this," he said, adding that he and his family "thought about it and I said yes because you can't let an opportunity like this escape you".

"I am coming to the best club in the world. You will learn a lot playing next to (Luis) Suarez, (Lionel) Messi and Neymar, both on a sporting and personal level. Suarez is the best forward in the world," he said.

Alcacer was critical of his former club saying that at Valencia they were "not doing things well. "It's a big club, but they are not working well and they are not achieving their aims.

"People in Valencia can think what they want, but I made the decision and I prefer to look ahead rather than to the past," he said, adding his was pleased with his reception in Barcelona.

"They have received me well and if the coach wants me to play at the weekend, I will be ready," said Alcacer.

Although he is a Spain international, the 23 year-old will have to wait for his chances in a forward line which includes Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.

"My role in the team depends on the coach (Luis Enrique), it is a long season and there are a lot of games to play. All of the players are going to contribute our grain of sand and I hope to do the same," commented Alcacer.

--IANS

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