Carlos Vela was ready to sign for Barcelona before Boateng deal
The Mexican forward was one of the Catalan club's options this month
Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela has admitted that he was ready to sign for Barcelona this month before the club signed Kevin Prince Boateng.
Vela was one of the options Barça had on the table after they sold Munir to Sevilla as they looked for a backup striker for Luis Suarez.
In the end, though, for a number of reasons, the Catalan club signed Sassuolo's Boateng on loan for six months, leaving Mexican striker Vela in MLS.
"It's difficult to say no to Barcelona," Vela's said. "These issues are more between the clubs. They're the ones that make the decisions. If it happened, it was more an exception [that I would leave] because it was Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in the world and it's difficult to say no if they're interested in you.
"If [Real] Madrid or Barça come for you... There are opportunities you can't let escape. I had the fortune to play in Spain for many years, I was capable of competing against the best and I don't have anything to prove."
However, he made it clear he's happy at LAFC: "When something like this comes up and they ask about your situation, it's always a good thing because it means you're doing your job well. I take it as a positive. And, if it doesn't then happen, no problem.
"I'm really good here, I don't want to leave Los Angeles. I don't want to leave LAFC, so I am just as happy."
