Mauricio Lemos reveals why he decided to turn down Barcelona
The Las Palmas defender rejected the Catalan side last summer
Lemos says he has no regrets in an interview with La Republica
Mauricio Lemos was a transfer target for Barcelona last summer. The club were in talks with the player and the club he was about to sign for from Russian side Rubin Kazan, UD Las Palmas, Barça's rival in La Liga this weekend.
It created a difficult summer for the Uruguayan and it took him a while to re-establish himself in Quique Setien's side. Things could have been different, though, had he chosen to make the move to Barcelona.
Expalining how events unfolded and how he reached his decision, Lemos told La Republica: "The sporting director told me they [Barca] were interested and that they were willing to give me an opportunuty."
Robert Fernandez and Albert Soler were in constant contact with his agent, Gerardo Rabajda, to try and push the signing through.
Lemos continued: "The offer didn't convince me. We weren't talking about money, just about football. I'm not thinking about money right now, just about improving as a player.
"I came from Russia to a team where I can do that. Las Palmas gives me that opportunity. I want to keep getting better and if I go to another team, it will be to keep playing and getting minutes."
Obviously it wasn't an easy decision to turn down Barça: "Of course I know they are a great team and anyone would want to play there, but sometimes you have to leave that to one side and think about yourself. I knew I wouldn't get minutes there."
And he even says that "they were going to send me to the B team, that's why I bet on staying at Las Palmas. You have to go step by step so that after, when you're more mature, you can take a bigger step."
Explaining in more detail, Lemos added: "I spoke about it with my family and decided not to go. I felt it was for the best. Many players go due to the name of the club, but what are they going for? If one day I move to a big club like that, my intention is to be a regular.
"I don't have any regrets. I made my decision and I stand by it. It's my future and I am going to write it myself."
