Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he told Kevin Gameiro that Diego Costa was always his first choice striker target.

Simeone admits turning to the former Sevilla ace only after realising a deal couldn't be done with Chelsea for Costa.

On Gameiro, he explained: "He's an explosive player, very fast. Fernando does it over longer distance; Gameiro, over short periods. The competition between them will give us chances and what better for a team than to have differences? With him, Griezmann, Correa and Fernando I think we are very well offensively.

"And we were always very clear with Gameiro. Always. When I spoke on the phone with him, I said that we had sought for the position Costa but that alternatives had been given by the club, I totally bet on him and we wanted to go forward with him this season."