Wednesday, 10th July, 2013
David Villa was keen for a move away from Spain and concrete offers from Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina seemed the solution, but remaining in La Liga was the best thing all round, the striker’s father has claimed.
Atletico Madrid have captured Villa from Barcelona for what has been termed a bargain fee of just €5.1m. Diego Simeone’s men will pay €2.1m this year, €2m next year, followed by a further €1m the year after.
In addition, Barcelona are entitled to 50% of any future transfer fee Atletico Madrid earn by selling Villa.
It had been thought that the 31-year-old would move abroad, especially with concrete offers on the table from Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina.
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And that is indeed what the former Valencia man wanted, his father Mel Villa explained.
"He did not intend to stay in Spain", Mel Villa told AS TV.
"He wanted to try abroad, but Atletico is exciting. But not only for him, for his family, for me. Atletico is a different club, engaging."
Villa will now look forward to regular first team football at the Vicente Calderon in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup.
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