Introducing Sevilla's New Mainstay, Papu Gomez, Who Was Once 'hauled' By Messi

JAKARTA - Papu Gomez officially became a Sevilla player after completing his move from Atalanta on Tuesday. But, you know what? The Argentine's career is full of anecdotes, some of which involve some of the faces he will meet again in Spain.

With his new team, the playmaker has the opportunity to face international teammate Lionel Messi. In the past, Papu talked about how difficult it was to train with the Barcelona forward.

"I didn't touch the ball that day. Every time I tried to tackle it, the ball was gone," Papu told TyC Sports.

Gomez also played under Diego Simeone when both were at San Lorenzo, and he has highlighted the key role the current Atletico Madrid boss plays in his career development.

"Simeone told me, 'In Europe, you are not going to play as a striker; you will be a winger,'" Papu recalled to Perfil Bulos.

"I replied by saying that if I played on the wing I was tired, because I didn't want to stay. Simeone made me play on the wing at San Lorenzo.

"I clashed a lot with Cholo (Simeone's nickname), but I ended up sending him a message saying he was right."

Papu Gomez will probably see some familiar faces in La Liga, but not as friends. He started a new challenge in a new league under Julen Lopetegui at Sevilla.

Gomez has not played when Sevilla beat Valencia 3-0 in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Spain, Wednesday local time.

Luuk de Jong packed Sevilla's two opener goals before being followed by Ivan Rakitic to seal the win for Julen Lopetegui's side in the first 38 minutes of the match.

Sevilla joined three other La Liga clubs namely Levante, Villarreal and Real Betis who had already reached the quarter-finals.