Robert reveals why Barça chose Alcacer over Gabriel Jesus, Luan & Gabigol

Barcelona spent most of the summer scouring the market for a fourth forward, but didn’t end up signing one until the day before deadline day. 

“It was the most complicated signing of all of them, because it was a delicate situation,” Robert Fernandez admitted in an interview with SPORT. 

The sporting director indicated that Paco Alcacer, who eventually joined from Valencia for 30 million euros, “is young, with big potential and was an important player for his club.” 

Robert preferred Alcacer to Luan, Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol, the other three forwards who were on the list and were all watched in Brazil. 

And he explained his reasons: “In Brazil there are a lot of players, but in nearly every case, they were the same cost as players in Europe, and in some cases more expensive. 

“In the end we chose Alcacer, who already has four years worth of La Liga experience. His adaption will be much quicker. 

"I always say that there are very few South Americans that come here, to a big club, and triumph [immediately]. Nearly all of them have to pay a toll [elsewhere] first, like Rivaldo at Depor, Ronaldinho at PSG, Ronaldo at PSV and so on. 

“The only one is Neymar and perhaps Marcelo. There aren't players that come from South America and are a success straight away at a young age. 

“It could have been a better bet [to sign from Brazil], but we're talking about the same money and Paco Alcacer is the reality.”