Atlético Madrid made an approach to sign Aston Villa’s Boubacar Kamara in the past.
That’s at least what RMC Sport journalist Daniel Riolo is reporting, and Le10 Sport have relayed his comments.
The France international joined Aston Villa on a free transfer in July 2022, after ending his 18-year spell at Marseille.
Kamara’s refusal to commit his future to his boyhood club attracted interest from several European clubs and Unai Emery’s side won the battle. His decision to leave the French club for the Villans hadn’t pleased Marseille president Pablo Longoria.
La Liga side wanted Aston Villa player
Prior to his move to Villa Park, Riolo claims Atlético Madrid had shown concrete interest in the midfielder. In fact, the La Liga side sent an official to France for face-to-face talks with him.
Los Rojiblancos wanted to add the 26-year-old to Diego Simeone’s squad and the trip to France was mostly to convince him to pick them over others. Riolo gives an insight into what took place behind the scenes with the Spanish club.
“He almost went to Atlético. I’ll tell you a little story anyway. Atlético showed interest in him at one point during the season. It would have been a very good choice for him to join such a club,” he said.
“Atlético were so interested in him that they sent their director to meet with Kamara. They wondered where they would meet. Whether people would talk if they were seen together, etc. As it happens, the Atletico director isn’t very well-known in France, so he thought, ‘No problem, I’ll come to you!’.”
Atlético official met midfielder in France
The journalist hasn’t mentioned the details of the official who made a trip to France.
“So, he [the director] went to Kamara’s house. He arranged a meeting, gave him his address,” Riolo explained.
“He arrived, rang the doorbell, and Kamara greeted him in shorts, barefoot. The Atlético director said, ‘I walked through the door, and I knew perfectly well that a guy like that could never sign with us. Because you don’t welcome a sporting director dressed like that, without any consideration, without anything. There were three friends there, barefoot in shorts…’ They talked, and he thought, ‘We’ll never be able to sign a guy like that’.”
Atlético missing out on Kamara would certainly please Emery and Aston Villa. Last July, the Premier League side rewarded him with a new contract until 2030.